Groups urge Congress to pass bill vs agricultural economic sabotage

The Philippine Tobacco Growers Association (PTGA) and the National Federation of Tobacco Farmers Association and Cooperatives (NAFTAC) urged Congress to convene a bicameral conference committee to tackle the proposed Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act.

In a press release on Thursday, PTGA president Saturnino Distor said the measure was needed ”since the agricultural sector is reeling from rampant smuggling that threatens local farmers and millions of their dependents.”

Distor said that tobacco farming has been vital to food security since their members also farm rice, corn, and other primary crops.

“We hope that Congress can finally have a bicameral conference committee so it can be signed by President Marcos before his SONA (State of the Nation Address). Ito ay isa sa prayoridad ng kanyang administrasyon at malaking tulong sa aming magsasaka (This is a priority of his administration and will be a great help to farmers),” Distor said.

The National Tobacco Administration (NTA) said there are currently 2.2 million Filipinos who are financially dependent on tobacco, including more than 430,000 farmers, farm workers, and their family members.

NAFTAC chairman Bernard Vicente said the passage of the bill would not only be good news for farmers but would also bring the Marcos administration a step closer to fulfilling its campaign promise of providing affordable agricultural products to the public.

“We believe the bill will help prevent the smuggling of agricultural products and will deter these criminals. Sana ay matapos na ang maliligayang araw ng mga smugglers, hoarders, at ang mga nagca-cartel,” Vicente said.

(I hope the happy days of smugglers, hoarders, and those cartels will end.)

The House of Representatives unanimously passed House Bill 9284, also known as the Anti-Agri-Fishery Commodities and Tobacco Economic Sabotage Act, on September 27, 2023.

Meanwhile, the Senate approved a similar measure, Senate Bill 2432, or the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act, last December 11.

Under the measure, agricultural hoarding will be considered economic sabotage if a person or combination of persons is in possession of stocks of agricultural and fishery products in excess of 30% of their normal inventory level two weeks after the declaration of an abnormal situation, an emergency, or a state of calamity. — VBL, GMA Integrated News