The Philippine Tobacco Growers Association (PTGA) and the National Federation of Tobacco Farmers Association and Cooperatives (NAFTAC) called on Congress to pass the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act before the President’s next State of the Nation Address in July.
The House of Representatives and the Senate have passed their versions of the measure on September 27 and December 11, respectively.
However, they have yet to convene a bicameral conference committee to reconcile their versions.
Congress will adjourn on May 24.
Saturnino Distor, PTGA president, said the proposed law will criminalize smuggling of rice and other agricultural products as an act of “economic sabotage,” which will make it punishable by life imprisonment and huge fines.
Bernard Vicente, NAFTAC chairman, said the proposed law can help lower the cost of agricultural products and ensure food self-sufficiency.
Data from the National Tobacco Administration showed there are 2.2 million Filipinos who are financially dependent on tobacco including more than 430,000 farmers, farm workers and their family members.
PTGA and NAFTAC have 50,000 tobacco producers as members some of them engaged also in farming rice, corn and other crops.
