SENATOR Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, called on authorities to “clamp down” on rice smuggling and exploitative practices of some rice traders who take advantage of the vulnerabilities of many Filipino rice farmers.
“Dagdag na problema ng ating mga magsasaka ang pananamantala at panloloko ng ilang malalaking rice traders at rice importers,” Go said in a media interview last Friday, October 23, 2020.
Go was referring to a cooperative in Tarlac allegedly involved in rice smuggling. He has earlier asked the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to probe the report and hold those involved accountable.
“Mas paigtingin pa natin ang pangangasiwa ng mga kooperatiba upang hindi na magkaroon ng ganitong klase ng katiwalian. Huwag po nating hayaang tuluyang maghirap ang ating magsasaka. Tuluy-tuloy po ang kampanya natin laban sa korapsyon at kasama dyan ang smuggling,” he added.
Go recounted a Senate hearing back in 2013 when President Rodrigo Duterte, then Davao City mayor, was invited as a resource person to talk about the issue of rice smuggling.
“Naalala n’yo po noong 2013, ipinatawag ng Senado si Mayor Duterte as one of the resource persons sa pagdinig sa Senado hinggil sa rice smuggling,” Go said.
“Sinamahan ko po siya doon, ako ‘yung nasa likod niya at doon natin nakita, sabi ni Pangulo ay talagang tutuluyan n’ya itong mga rice smugglers,” he added.
It was in that hearing that Duterte threatened to kill alleged rice smuggling “king” ‘David Tan/Davidson Bangayan’ should he be spotted in Davao City.
Go also asked government to prioritize the welfare of small farmers, adding that his office is always open to listen to them.
To further safeguard and promote the agriculture sector, Go urged for the creation of effective mechanisms to protect the welfare of small farmers and other agricultural workers, especially in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
“Sa panahon po ng krisis at pandemya, ang ating mga masisipag na magsasaka ang nagsisilbing kasangga ng bawat pamilyang Pilipino bilang mga food providers ng ating bayan. Nararapat lamang na maglaan tayo ng epektibong mekanismo na mangangalaga sa kapakanan nila,” he said.
A day earlier, the senator had participated in the deliberation of the proposed 2021budget of the Department of Agriculture (DA) where he emphasized the importance of the agricultural sector and its contributions towards economic recovery.
In response, the Bureau of Customs (BOC), thru Assistant Commissioner Atty. Vincent Philip ‘Jett’ Maronilla, announced that even before Go aired his concerns, the BOC is already conducting an “intensified” post clearance audit of the country’s rice importations.
Maronilla, bureau spokesman and in charge of the post clearance audit group (PCAG).
“The conduct of post clearance audit is a continuing effort by the BOC which aims to check and verify the compliance of importers to customs laws and regulations and to determine whether they are liable for the payment of deficiency in customs duties, taxes, and other charges, including any fine or penalty,” Maronilla pointed out.
“For this year, 60 rice importers have been selected to be subjected to post clearance audit.
“The audit shall cover their importations of rice during the period of 01 January to 30 June 2020” he added.
In addition to the audit, the BOC has also intensified intelligence and enforcement measures, verifying reports from concerned citizens and stakeholders such as local farmer federations, in order to interdict smuggled rice into the country,” Maronilla pointed out further.
To further assist the agricultural sector, Go also pushed for extended support services, education, training, and more agricultural equipment and facilities for farmers and fisherfolk to safeguard the nation’s food security.
“Lalo na sa panahon ngayon na apektado ng krisis ang ating ekonomiya, ‘back to basics’ po tayo. Nakita natin ngayon kung gaano kahalaga ang agrikultura sa ating bansa at sa ating kabuhayan,” Go said.