By Freddie G. Lazaro
VIGAN CITY — Livestock raisers from
Region 1 have expressed full support to the move of the Department of
Agriculture to exclude their products as “bargaining chip” in negotiating with
the World Trade Organization (WTO) for the three-year extension of the country’s
quantitative restrictions (QR) on rice import.
Swine Development Council convenor
and Abono Party-list group’s chairman Rosendo So stressed that the inclusion of
the livestock and poultry products as bargaining chip for the QR’s negotiation
for extension on rice import would probably make a too low tariff on their
products which would be detrimental to the industry.
According to So, the livestock and
poultry sectors represent 25 percent of the country’s agriculture, with a
combined production value of P320 billion annually.
In the past, the livestock and
poultry sectors were used as bargaining chips by the government in negotiating
for an extension on the quantitative restriction on rice in which tariff on
livestock and poultry products were made too low causing the increase on
importation of meat products in the local markets. Livelihood, jobs and
government revenues were lost because of the low tariff on the livestock and
poultry products.
This time, Agriculture Secretary
Proceso Alcala has assured that the interest of the local livestock and poultry
producers will not be sacrificed when the Philippines renegotiates for the
extension of the qualitative restriction on rice.
“We expressed our utmost thanks to
our Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala on his verbal assurance that the
livestock and poultry sectors will not be used as bargaining chips in the
renegotiation for another extension on the quantitative restriction for rice,”
So said.
“We extend our hand of support in
your quest to uplift the lives of the people in the agricultural sector,” So
added. .
The Philippines is currently in
talks with the WTO for the extension on limits on the importation of rice,
which have been enjoyed by country since June 2006.
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