The Department of Agriculture (DA) is focused on helping raise the productivity and incomes of local producers to avoid importation during the pandemic and the looming threat of a new swine disease from China, according to Secretary William Dar.
Dar said the DA only allows importation of commodities that are not locally available in commercial quantity, citing the case of mechanically deboned meat which is used by meat processors.
Amid the threat of a new strain of swine flu, the Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura called for the full implementation of the first border policy under the Food Safety Law.
“The Food Safety Law was enacted in 2013, it’s been seven years but we are nowhere near 100 percent examination of all agricultural and food imports. If we still cannot do that 100 percent, we will appeal for the DA to immediately suspend all refrigerated and non-refrigerated agriculture and agri-based imports,” said Rosendo So, the group chairman.
So in a statement said the DA early this year pledged the establishment of first border examination facilities in Manila, Davao, Cebu, Batangas and Bataan.
“Without the 100- percent inspection at the port of first entry, there should be no unloading of cargoes and containers. Cargoes with insufficient documents would not be processed and would not be released, all expenses incurred would be charged to the importers,” So said, adding that it is now a global standard for any imported food items to ensure public health security.
Meanwhile sugar industry stakeholders Asociacion de Agricultores de La Carlota y Pontevedra Inc. said the DA’s stand on importation will “ensure the livelihood of millions of farmers whose lives and families depend on agriculture.”
“We share the same idea that by increasing farm productivity, we ensure food security which will lead to self-sufficiency for the agriculture sector of the country,” said Roberto Cuenca, group president.
Cuenca said by doing so, “we are giving priority to our farmers and producers who are the key to our nation’s food security.”
At the Laging Handa briefing yesterday, Dar said he is optimistic the DA’s P240-billion budget proposal for 2021 will be considered as P66 billion from the amount will be used as a stimulus package to expand domestic food production.
The stimulus involves the establishment of infrastructure and logistics solutions like trading centers and cold facilities as well as the implementation of agri work programs for those displaced.
