AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert T. Lee has filed a measure to conduct an inquiry into the reported proliferation of smuggled onions and other possible agricultural products being sold online that are detrimental to the livelihood of local farmers and fisherfolk, and pose a threat to the health of consumers.
In his House Resolution No. 1600, Lee stressed that “there is a need to take decisive action and measures from the government to protect our consumers as well as the livelihood of Filipino farmers and fisherfolk amid the online selling of smuggled onions.”
The Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (Sinag) earlier noted that onion farmers are already incurring losses with the current ₱28 per kilo farmgate price as the production costs now stand at ₱30 per kilo.
“May mga nagreklamo na po sa atin na local onion farmers na nalulugi na sila dahil sa mababang farmgate price ng kanilang produkto. Nangangamba sila na lalong hindi mabebenta ang kanilang ani dahil sa nabibiling murang smuggled na sibuyas online,” the solon said.
“Sa kabilang banda, meron na ring nagreklamo sa atin na nakabili online, at yung dumating sa kanila ay hindi maganda ang kalidad, yung iba ay nabubulok na. Hindi naman nila maisoli. DA (Department of Agriculture) na rin ang nagreport na may mga nakumpiska silang smuggled onions noon na may E. coli. ‘Pag smuggled kasi, hindi po ito dumaaan sa phytosanitary tests o mga pagsusuri.”
“Pero hindi po natin masisisi ang mga kababayan natin na bumibili pa rin ng mga produkto kahit may health risk dahil mas nakakamura sila. Yung matitipid nila ay dagdag na ring pambili sa ipa bang pangangailangan o panggastos ‘pag nagkasakit,” Lee added.
The Bicolano lawmaker has urged the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and other relevant government agencies to implement more stringent measures to curb the sale of illegally-sourced agricultural products online.
“In coordination with the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI), kailangan maiging suriin ng gobyerno ang health hazard ng mga ibinebentang sibuyas online sa pagsasagawa ng phytosanitary tests, at magbigay ng kaukulang babala sa publiko lalo na kung hindi ito ligtas kainin,” he reiterated.
Amid the still rampant large-scale agricultural smuggling in the country, Lee underscored the need for the urgent passage of his proposed bill to amend Republic Act No. 10845 or the “Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act of 2016” to impose heavier punishment on agricultural smugglers, hoarders, price manipulators, cartels and government officials and employees who take part in this crime which is considered as economic sabotage.
“Kailangan na pong agarang maipasa ang mas mahigpit na batas para puksain ang salot na agri smuggling na dahilan ng pagkalugi ng ating mga magsasaka, at dagdagan ang suporta ng gobyerno para sa local producers mula sa pagtatanim hanggang pagbebenta ng ani, para mahikayat silang pataasin ang kanilang produksyon, na sa huli ay magpapababa din naman sa presyo ng kanilang produkto,” explained Lee.
“Winner Tayo Lahat kapag naprotektahan ang kabuhayan at kalusugan ng ating mga local producers at consumers. Sa hirap ng buhay, mapapagaan natin ang pasanin ng Pilipino kung may tiyak na trabaho, dagdag na kita, abot-kaya at masustansyang pagkain, at kung mababawasan ang pangamba nila na wala silang panggastos ‘pag nagkasakit,” he added.
