Pagpapalawig ng EO sa reduced tariffs tablado sa SINAG

MANILA, Philippines- Tutol ang Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG) sa plano ng economic team ng gobyerno na palawigin pa ang reduced import duties sa iba’t ibang bilihin.

Sinabi ni SINAG executive director Jayson Cainglet na halos “three years since the first Executive Order was signed by then President [Rodrigo] Duterte that lowered the tariffs on rice, meat, and corn; the reverse has actually happened.”

Inihayag ito ng SINAG matapos sabihin ni Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno na binubusisi ng economic team ang posibilidad ng pagpapalawig sa EO sa reduced tariff rates para sa imports ng ilang bilihin.

Nilagdaan noong December 29, 2022, ipinalabas ni Pangulong Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. ang Executive Order No. 10, na pinalawig hanggang December 31, 2023 ang reduced tariff rates sa mga sumusunod na bilihin:

• Karne ng baboy, fresh, chilled, o frozen sa 15% (in-quota) at 25% (out-quota)

• Mais sa 5% (in-quota) at 15% (out-quota)

• Bigas sa 35% (in-quota at out-quota)

• Coal

Pinalawig pa ng EO 10 ni Marcos ang EO 171, na ipinalabas ni dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte, na nagpalawig sa pagpapairal sa reduced tariff rates sa ilalim ng EO Nos. 134 at 135, at nagpababa sa tariff rates sa cord at coal hanggang December 31, 2022.

Sinabi ni Cainglet na “tariff protects the local industry” dahil ang cost of production mula sa source countries ay mas mababa “as they are heavily subsidized by their respective governments.”

“In the absence of comprehensive government support, tariff is the local industry’s last refuge,” aniya.

“Lowering tariffs have only benefitted and incentivized a few privileged importers and favored traders,” dagdag niya.

Giit ni Cainglet, “it is high the time that the economic team support local producers and incentivize local industries and local agri-entrepreneurs, promote food sovereignty and do away with the mentality that imports are manna from our benevolent importers.” RNT/SA