MANILA, Philippines — The value of agricultural commodities smuggled into the Philippines surged to some P182 billion in 2010 to 2014, close to double the contraband valued at P95 billion in 2005 to 2009, according to the Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (Sinag).
Sinag chair Rosendo So said on Friday this meant that the government lost some P60 billion to P80 billion in the importation of rice, pork, sugar, chicken, onion, carrots and garlic — considering that tariffs have been set at 30 percent to 40 percent.
So said the spike in smuggling was the legacy of President Benigno Aquino III’s administration for the agriculture sector.
“Since day one of his administration, we have urged President Aquino to look into the pestilence of this “daang madumi,” said So.
“After five years and four successive chiefs of the Bureau of Customs, there is no doubt that this administration has failed the agriculture sector in this regard,” he added. SFM