Investigation on entry of alleged smuggled veggies sought in Congress

Benguet, Philippines – A house resolution for the probe of the entry of alleged smuggled carrots in the country is being drafted to be filed in congress by Benguet Caretaker Congressman Eric Go Yap, Mountain Province Broadcasting Corporation reported Tuesday, September 28, 2021.

The entry of the believed smuggled carrots, according to the congressman, is considered to be a sabotage to the country’s economy. Additionally, the incident has greatly affected local farmers in Benguet, in which the competition drove prices down resulting to loses disadvantaging local farmers.

The smuggling of vegetables to the country, he added, could also result in having local products unsold in the market.

Yap said he already met with some officials from the Department of Agriculture and Bureau of Custom (BOC) to give attention and solve the said issue.

As recalled, members of the League of Associations at the La Trinidad Vegetable Trading Areas Inc. had already appealed to BOC for the investigation on the issue of smuggling or the entry and trade of alleged smuggled vegetables in Divisoria Tondo in Metro Manila and in Cebu.

This after they found out from buyers and sellers in Divisoria Tondo that alleged smuggled cabbages and carrots from China are being sold in the local market at a lower price where locally grown cabbages and carrots are also being traded.

These, they claimed, made Manila buyers to stop getting vegetables from them with many reducing and cancelling their orders.

In Cebu, the group said that at least 4 container vans of smuggled carrots are being delivered weekly at the Carbon market, and that these are distributed and being sold at P50 per kilogram.

The Bureau of Plant Industry previously claimed on August 18, 2021, that they did not issue any legal permit for the importation of cabbages and carrots.

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