Responding to the persistent clamor among vegetable industry players from Benguet and its neighboring provinces against the alleged resurgence of vegetable smuggling in the country, the Department of Agriculture sent some of its top management officials for a dialogue with industry stakeholders at the Agricultural Training Institute-Regional Training Center-Cordillera Administrative Region (ATI-RTC-CAR) in La Trinidad, Benguet on March 19, 2022. Leading the DA delegation is Undersecretary for Research, Innovation, Training and Extension Support and concurrent and Chief-of-Staff Leocadio S. Sebastian who came with Assistant Secretary for the DA-Wide Field Inspectorate Federico E. Laciste, Jr and DA-Bureau of Plant Industry (DA-BPI) Director George Y. Culaste. The DA-Regional Field Office-CAR (DA-RFO-CAR) High Value Crops Development Program facilitated the activity with Regional Executive Director Cameron P. Odsey presiding over the said forum.
Through the meeting, representatives from the various segments across of the vegetable industry value chain were able to express the challenges they are currently experiencing due to the impacts of vegetable smuggling. The group also presented information which they have gathered proving the existence and increased occurrence of vegetable smuggling particularly among major vegetable market outlets in the country. While appreciative of the DA’s response to their plea for help, particularly that of the DA-RFO-CAR, the group remain highly expectant for more concrete and concerted actions from the government in addressing vegetable smuggling.
In response ASec. Laciste, who also heads the DA and DTI based Sub-Task Group on Economic Intelligence, presented the sub-task group’s efforts in curbing vegetable smuggling. Acknowledging the vital role of the vegetable industry stakeholders, particularly their consistent vigilance and cooperation with authorities, he also invited the meeting participants to remain in constant communication with the sub-task group. DA-BPI Director Culaste also assured the group that the BPI has not issued any sanitary and phyto-sanitary import clearance for fresh vegetables such as carrots, cabbage, potato, and broccoli. Usec. Sebastian also encouraged the stakeholder representatives to continue and sustain their empowerment and development. He emphasized the need for a more cohesive and unified vegetable industry group to amplify their voice particularly in policy formulation and implementation. Finally, it was also agreed during the actvity that the DA will again meet the group and that the concerned local government units will also be invited.
President Rodrigo R. Duterte formed the Sub-Task Group on Economic Intelligence under the IATF-Food Security Group in February 2021. Through the sub-task group, the President ordered the DA and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to coordinate with law enforcement agencies in hunting down smugglers, profiteers and hoarders of food commodities. The DA and DTI are co-chairs to the sub-task group, with the Department of Justice, Department of Interior and Local Government, National Bureau of, Philippine National Police, Bureau of Customs, Philippine Competition Commission, National Security Council (NSC), and the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency as members.
Since its inauguration on May 31, 2021 with DA Secretary William D. Dar as guest of honor, the new ATI-RTC-CAR building has been hosting some of DA’s recent meetings with various stakeholders involving the DA’s top management. These include two of Secretary Dar’s meeting with the Benguet Agri-Pinoy Trading Center Project Steering Board on May 31, 2021 and on December 21, 2021.
