ROSALES—More than a hundred associations of livestock industry and thousands more individual backyard hog growers across the country have united to call on President Benigno Aquino III to stop smuggling that is killing their industry for the past six years.

In a letter addressed to the President, the groups led by the Swine Development Council, Pork Producers Federation of the Phils. Inc., National Federation of Hog Farmers Inc., Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG), Agap party-list and Abono party-list said, “For the first time, we, from the livestock industry and allied sectors are raising our collective voice in calling the Aquino government to finally put an end to smuggling.”

To finally stop the smuggling, the groups are demanding for:

1. The strict enforcement of the “quarantine first policy”, before payment of duties, as embodied in the Republic Act 10611 or the Food Safety Act of 2013.
2. The 100 percent quarantine test and inspection at the port of first entry on: a) all pork/meat imports with declared 5 % to 10% tariff; b) all imports of the top ten meat importers of the previous year, c) all imports coming from first-time importers.
3. The stringent and transparent criteria for the accreditation of importers, including the disclosure of the intended usage of imported offal, fat, rind and skin and annual financial/income report of the past five years for all accredited importers, and certified by the Bureau of Internal Revenue and the Securities and Exchange Commission.
4. The strict implementation by the DA and the Department of Health of the labeling requirements, especially on imported agriculture commodity and food items, on expiry dates to ensure food safety and public heath from misbranded and economically adulterated products.
5. The immediate signing of the bill by President Aquino that makes smuggling of agricultural commodities an act that constitutes economic sabotage.

“Six years is more than enough time. If no concrete action is taken immediately, we are ready to pursue other avenues to seek redress,” they warned.

Engr. Rosendo So, head of SINAG (Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura) said, “The countdown begins, is our government for smugglers or for local industry?”

The groups have threatened to stage a five-day pork holiday across the country before the end of the month or first week of April to dramatize their desperation over the unabated smuggling. (Tita Roces)

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