Benguet farmers ask help to stop vegetable importation

Benguet, Philippines – Vegetable farmers in Benguet sought the help of the Department of Agriculture – Cordillera and the provincial council to help them stop imports that have been flooding the market.

Markets that the Benguet vegetable producers have long been serving such as Metro Manila, Batangas, Quezon and Sariaya are now full of imported carrots, potatoes, broccoli, and cauliflower.

According to the members of the League of Associations at the La Trinidad Vegetable Trading Area, Inc., the importation is caused by Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) – a free trade deal between the 10 member-countries of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) with Japan, South Korea, China, Australia and New Zealand.

The pact, which covers trade in goods and services, intellectual property and others, creates an integrated market, making it easier for products and services of each of these countries to be available across this region.

The deal entered into by the Philippines took effect in the country in June 2023.

The farmers’ group in Benguet admitted they have already felt the adverse impact of the free trade agreement. Their buyers in Pasig and other Manila-based buyers stopped ordering broccoli and cauliflower as they opt to purchase imported produce.

Manila wholesalers, meantime, told the farmers that their sale of imported products is legal for they acquired permit for such.

The league has reached out to OIC-Regional Director of DA – Cordillera, Atty. Jennilyn Dawayan and Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Benguet led by Vice Governor Ericson L. Felipe to do something about the imports and act on the farmers’ behalf.

Losing buyers, they said, “will eventually kill the local vegetable and farming industry.”

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