22 Abril 2024, Lunes
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Farm produce import barriers eased
By J.Lo
"It is imperative to further streamline administrative procedures to foster transparency and predictability of policies on importation of agricultural products in order to help ensure food security, maintain sufficient supply of agricultural goods in domestic market and improve local production," President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.said in Administrative Order No. 20, dated April 18 citing constraints that increase importation costs and limit supply of farm goods, has ordered removal of non-tariff barriers on importation of agricultural products and streamlining of administrative procedures to address rising commodity prices.
Non-tariff barriers are policy measures, other than customs tariffs, restrict trade, including quotas, import licensing systems, regulations and red tape, he said.
Despite existing measures, these barriers and administrative constraints continue to persist, increasing domestic prices of farm commodities, Marcos noted.
The order, took effect immediately, also contained President's directives on processing and issuance of sanitary and phytosanitary import clearance for agricultural products and guidelines for importation of sugar and fishery products.
Department of Agriculture (DA), in coordination with either Department of Trade and Industry or Department of Finance, is tasked with streamlining procedures and requirements in licensing of importers, minimizing processing time of application for importation and exempting licensed traders from submission of registration requirements.
DA should also facilitate importation of certain agricultural products beyond authorized minimum access volume and reduce or remove administrative fees, subject to consultations with National Economic and Development Authority's committee on tariff and related matters.
Sugar Regulatory Administration was directed to streamline and standardize guidelines for sugar importation.
Marcos also called for faster processing of agricultural imports, directing Bureau of Customs to prioritize unloading and release of imported agricultural products.
FMJ reconstituted surveillance team comprised of various agencies to ensure effective implementation of order.
Team will monitor importation and distribution of farm goods, prevent illegal acts of price manipulation and other forms of unfair or anti-competitive commercial practices, take appropriate remedial measures to address unlawful acts and craft guidelines on sharing information and enhancing transparency and accountability of concerned agencies.
Meanwhile, Marcos also ordered agencies and local government units to support implementation of Enhanced Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty program.
Retail price of regular and well-milled rice increased between P1 and P2 per kilo in the past few days compared to prevailing price last week, according to DA.
"We are still in harvest season and during this time, retail price of rice should go down…at present, prevailing price of regular and well-milled rice ranges between P51 and P52 per kilo... last week, prevailing price was P50 to P51 per kilo," Agriculture Assistant Secretary and spokesman Arnel de Mesa noted.
DA is determining cause of movement in retail price of rice, he added.
"We are now checking with National Food Authority and other concerned government agencies… increase was not that big but there was upward trend," he said.
Based on DA's monitoring, retail price of local regular rice ranged between P48 and P52 per kilo; local well-milled rice, between P48 and P55 per kilo; local premium rice, between 51 and P58 per kilo and local special rice, between P57 and 67 per kilo.
Imported regular rice, between P48 and P51; imported well-milled P50 and P58 per kilo; imported premium rice, between P50 and P62 per kilo; and imported special rice, between P56 and P56 and P64 per kilo.
US Department of Agriculture decreased its forecast on the country's total importation of staple to 3.9 million metric tons from previous 4.1 million MT, De Mesa said.
"This only shows that we expect good harvest despite El Niño and limited typhoons…ihis is because we have good irrigation in Central Luzon…we have good palay production," he added.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu-Laurel Jr. is pushing for at least P250-billion budget in 2025 to implement four-year plan for agriculture sector, he noted.
"Our priority is expansion and improvement of our production areas... big portion of budget of DA for 2025 will be focusing on irrigation systems…we'll also be focusing on modernization of agriculture; we'll also be focusing on improvement in post-harvest and decrease in post-harvest losses… so our proposal is to double budget, from P170 to at least 250 billion next year," he said.
Meanwhile, retail price of pork increased between P5 and P10 per kilo, De Mesa said.
"For pork shoulder, retail price ranged from P335 to P340… higher by P5 to P10 per kilo compared to previous week…in terms of pork belly, prevailing price is P380 per kilo but we also monitored P400 per kilo… farmgate is only little over P200 per kilo so if traders will add P100 per kilo as benchmark, retail price should only be between P320 and P330 per kilo for shoulder," he noted.
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