The Agriculture Department plans to impose sanitary and phytosanitary measures against imported rice as several shipments were found to be packed with pests which could endanger Filipino consumers’ health.
Imported rice which ballooned to 2.2 million metric tons so far was found in the past to be needing heavy pesticide-spraying because of “bukbok” or pests, according to the Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food Inc.
Agriculture Secretary William Dar said in a recent forum with FCAFI that the government would impose SPS measures on rice imports which are sanctioned within the World Trade Organization agreement to curb poor-quality rice imports.
“We have asked BPI [Bureau of Plant Industry] to implement a protocol in import regulations regarding pesticide residue, presence of storage pests before the issuance of SPS [certificate] for imported rice,” said Dar during the PCAFI meeting at the Quezon City Sports Club.
Dar said the department would correct several policies and impose new ones to ensure the benefit of both Filipino farmers and consumers.
“Those that say DA should rather be called Department of Importation, to some extent that’s true. And we will correct that eventually,” Dar said.
One of the policies being studied is the recommendation of PCAFI for the imposition of special safeguard measures, similarly sanctioned by the WTO, to ensure entry of dumped rice does not endanger the local industry.
“We’re also now studying the possibility of special and general safeguards measure. If there’s excessive rice import, we will limit these. We will stop rice [imports] from coming from its origin as it’s affected by bukbok,” said Dar.
PCAFI President Danilo Fausto said such special safeguard measure is a government right as a part of protecting its own people.
Section 7 of Republic Act 11203 (Rice Tariffication Act) indicates government may “increase, reduce, revise” import duty rates (given certain conditions) consistent with “national interest” and the “objective of protection Filipino farmers and consumers.”
Meanwhile, the Agricultural Credit Policy Council and the LandBank of the Philippines signed a memorandum of agreement for the release of P1.5 billion for the Expanded Survival and Recovery Assistance Program for Rice Farmers.
The SURE Aid Program aims to assist the rice farmers whose incomes were affected by the drop in the farmgate price of palay.
The program will provide one-time loan assistance of P15,000 to rice farmers who are farming one hectare and below at 0 percent interest rate payable for eight years.
LandBank will administer the P1.5 billion fund from the ACPC for the lending program. With Othel V. Campos