SENATOR Joseph Victor Ejercito expressed optimism that the anti-agricultural smuggling measure he is pushing will impact positively the country’s agriculture sector, especially that of Negros Occidental, which is one of the prime movers of agriculture development.
Ejercito, who chairs the Senate committees on urban planning, housing and resettlement, and economic affairs, was in Bacolod City Saturday to keynote and administer the 80th Induction Ceremonies of the Negros Press Club.
Ejercito said that through the passage of the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Bill he authored, which is now up for House ratification, most of the agricultural goods would gain a boost and would revive the neglected state of the country’s agricultural sector, particularly sugar and rice due to large-scale smuggling.
The law provides an imposition of stiffer penalties such as imprisonment of less than 17 years for those who will be found guilty.
If not addressed, the country would soon succumb to an economic crisis due to the P200-billion annual loss incurred from agricultural smuggling alone.
As the Senate resumes it session, Ejercito said he is very positive that it will be ratified by the House, and eventually be up for President Aquino to sign it as law.
“It is really frustrating and depressing to see that traders or some businessmen resorting to selling smuggled goods, instead of supporting our local farmers,” Ejercito said, adding that the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act and the Senate version of the Sugarcane Industry Development Act, which he also authored, are two landmark measures for Negrenses.
These would uplift the living conditions of sugarcane farmers and agricultural workers as well as boost the business sector in the province, he added.
The senator said that aside from sugar and rice, most traders are also selling other smuggled goods like onions in different countries like China, Vietnam, and Thailand.
Ejercito expressed concerns that with the Asean economic integration, which is now taking effect, the agriculture industry would eventually face its demise if the government will not shape up and work for more support initiatives. (EPN)