Wednesday, May 23, 2007 Outgoing board member vows continued anti-import drive By Jane Cadalig
WHILE saying he would no longer have the authority to represent the province in monitoring the entry of imported products, an outgoing Benguet board member said he would pursue the job "as a taxpayer."
Benguet Board Member John Kim said he would still exercise vigilance against the entry of imported agricultural commodities in the country to ensure that the importation is regulated.
Kim, who got the sympathy of Benguet voters in the 2004 elections due to his advocacy against importation, lost in his reelection bid. He ranked eighth in the province's second district. He topped the district in the 2004 elections.
Despite this, Kim said he would still uphold the battle against unregulated importation. "We may no longer have the authority to represent the province in Metro Manila after June 30 but we will continue the work as a taxpayer," he said.
Kim is a member of the Fair Trade Alliance and the Alyansa Agrikultura -- the two non-government organizations serving as watchdog on importation.
The board member was also among the personalities instrumental in suing and the eventual removal of ranking officials of the Bureau of Plant and Industry (BPI) on allegations of lapses in issuing import permits and in filing cases against importers. He chairs the Provincial Board (PB) committee on agriculture.
