Party-list group hits RCEP ratification, bats for PH agri sector support
(AFP file photo)
MANILA, Philippines — The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) party-list on Wednesday decried the ratification of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), which it said would “kill the country’s local agricultural sector.”
The RCEP is a free trade agreement among the five members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and five other countries — Australia, China, Japan, South Korea, and New Zealand. It provides preferential arrangements, including market access, in all participating countries.
ACT Teachers party-list Rep. and House Deputy Minority Leader France Castro said that RCEP would only result in more importation, which would kill the local agriculture industry.
Instead, Castro said that the government should prioritize and support the crop sector amid the economic-related challenges brought by inflation, highlighting the importance of the crop sector and food security to Filipinos.
“Dapat ganap na suportahan at palakasin ang lokal na produksyon ng pagkain sa pamamagitan ng agricultural subsidies, patuloy na umaasa ang gobyerno sa mga agricultural imports — imported na bigas, sibuyas, bawang, karne at gulay para sa lokal na konsumo,” Castro stressed.
(We must fully support and strengthen the country’s local food production through agricultural subsidies because the government continues to rely on agricultural imports — imported rice, onions, garlic, meat, and vegetables for local consumption.)
Moreover, she said that Congress should use its oversight powers to determine the effects and impacts of import liberalization on agriculture.
In an earlier statement, Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri said that the agreement is projected to generate 1.4 million jobs for Filipinos.
