Thursday, July 06, 2006
7 veggies excluded from free trade: agri chief
BAGUIO CITY -- Vegetables that are produced in Benguet are not among the products that will suffer the consequences of the free trade agreement earlier signed by the Philippine Government and the People's Republic of China, said Agriculture Secretary Domingo Panganiban on Wednesday.
In a letter to the Provincial Board (PB) of Benguet, Panganiban said vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce, cabbage, celery, green and red pepper, mushroom, and strawberry are not included in Executive Order (EO) 485 signed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, which provided for the imposition of minimal to zero tariff rates on certain agricultural crops.
"We would like to clarify that said agricultural products were not included in EO 485. The vegetable products in EO 485 only include Brussels sprouts, and related vegetables, globe artichokes, truffles, preserved olives, and preserve capers. Other vegetables included in the executive order are in dried or powder form," he told Vice Governor Crescencio Pacalso in the letter.
The PB earlier pushed for an amendment of EO 485 to exclude Benguet crops to save local farmers and the vegetable industry from collapsing.
EO 485 was issued pursuant to the Early Harvest Program (EHP) forged between the Philippine and Chinese governments on April 27 last year.
Under the EHP, the country agreed to eliminate tariffs on certain products.
But Panganiban said the department is pressing for the removal of the seven vegetables from the EHP list.
"We wish to inform you that the agriculture department has taken into consideration the sensitivity of locally produced vegetables and has pushed for the exclusion of these items in the EHP." (JC of Sun.Star Baguio/Sunnex)
(July 6, 2006 issue)
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