Import of 60,000 tons of fish ‘cover’ to smuggle pork, chicken—AGAP
A FORMER congressman representing the agricultural sector expressed suspicion that the decision of the Department of Agriculture (DA) to allow the importation of 60,000 metric tons of fish products is just a “cover” for the technical smuggling of more pork and chicken products into the country.
During the ‘Meet the Press/Report to the Nation’ media forum of the National Press Club (NPC) last Friday, February 11, 2022, Nicanor Briones of the AGAP (Agricultural Sector Alliance of the Philippines) partylist, said they also cannot understand DA Sec. William Dar to allow the importation as the country has no shortage of fish supply.
In an announcement last month, Dar confirmed he approved the issuance of a ‘Certificate of Necessity to Import’ (CNI) covering the first quarter of 2022 (January to March), claiming the department has projected a shortfall of around 119,000 metric tons in supply due to the close of the fishing season, government neglect of the fisheries sector and the devastation caused last year by Typhoon Odette.
Dar claimed the aqua-fisheries sector suffered some P4 billion in damage from the typhoon.
But according to Briones, the DA had previously claimed the country has a reserved of some 35,000 metric tons of fish products stored in various cold-storage facilities.
“Ako’y naniniwala na yang sinasabi nilang reserba, wala na ‘yan,” he added. “Ginamit nila yan sa technical smuggling ng mga karneng manok at baboy.”
Technical smuggling involves the misdeclaration, undervaluation and misclassification, under the Tariff Code, of one article for another.
Briones averred that the smugglers would now resort to misdeclaring their shipments of pork and chicken as fish, especially with the end this year of the ‘MAV’ (minimum access volume) for pork and chicken.
Last year, the agricultural sector heavily criticized Dar for also taking the lead in reducing the import tariff for pork and chicken under the MAV to also purportedly address supply shortage due to the devastation of the ‘African Swine Fever’ (ASF) that resulted to the loss of upwards to 80 percent of the country’s domestic hog production.
“Ngayong tapos na ang MAV, ang taripa ng baboy at manok (babalik) sa 30 percent, 40 percent. Ang isda, 3 to 7 percent.
“Eh, di ang laki ng matitipid ng mga smuggler kung idedeklara nilang isda.”
Aside from the huge import tax difference, Briones said smugglers can also benefit from declaring their imports at a much lower price.
“Ang presyo ng (imported) isda, 50 pesos, ang baboy, 100 pesos. Bukod sa mababa na ang binayarang buwis, mababa pa ang idineklarang presyo.”
He added that up to now, the local industry continues to be exasperated with Dar’s refusal to listen to their advice and suggestions when it comes to the issue of importation.
Briones also maintained that some groups are profiting from the DA’s importation policy.
