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Government

DA SUSPENDS ONION IMPORTATION UNTIL MAY

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, Jr. has ordered a temporary halt to onion imports until May–possibly extending the suspension through July– if domestic harvest of the high value crop remains sufficient to meet local demand. Tiu Laurel issued the policy pronouncement to prevent further depressing onion prices due to supply glut. The agriculture chief recently […]

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Government

NO IMPORTATION OF ONIONS NEXT YEAR – DA

The Department of Agriculture (DA) will not import onions for the remainder of the year as the harvest is expected to begin in the upcoming weeks, Senior Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban said. Panganiban explained onion supply is not enough but the Department is not considering importation, since farmers will begin to harvest in January and February.  […]

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Politics

ZUBIRI: LESS GOV’T RESTRICTIONS ON SUGAR IMPORT

Senate President Migz Zubiri said sugar industry stakeholders must be allowed to import supplies of the commodity on their own to end suspicions of “tong-pats,” or price-padding scheme.Zubiri made the recommendation as the Committee on Accountability of Public Officers and Investigations, or the Blue Ribbon Committee wrapped up its inquiry on the fiasco involving the […]

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Politics

INNOVATION WILL HELP SUGAR FARMERS – GORDON

Following a proposal by the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) of the Department of Agriculture (DA) to import sugar, Senator Dick Gordon has recommended to develop the Philippines’ sugar industry and help the farmers earn more through innovation. “[Dapat] palakasin ang capability at capacity ng ating sugar farmers para lumakas ang kanilang produkto at mabigyan sila […]

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Politics

STOP IMPORTING AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS – ZUBIRI

Senate Majority Leader Migz Zubiri is taking firm a stand against agricultural importation, calling for the Department of Agriculture to cease importation during harvest season for local farmers. This call comes after two straight weeks of plummeting millgate prices for raw sugar, in anticipation of the impending sugar importation as announced by the Sugar Regulatory […]

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Politics

STOP IMPORTING ‘GALUNGGONG’ – PANGILINAN

As the Department of Agriculture’s claim of fish shortage is disputed even by the fisheries sector, vice-presidential aspirant Senator Kiko Pangilinan said smugglers of food items will be jailed and the “mafia-style” importation of galunggong (round scad) and other food items will be dismantled under a Robredo-Pangilinan administration. “Tulad ng pag-import ng PPEs (personal protective […]

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Government

DA PROBES ALLEGED CORRUPTION IN PORK IMPORTATION

The Department of Agriculture (DA) has created a special committee to look into allegations of corruption in the allocation of meat import certificates under the in-quota Minimum Access Volume (MAV) scheme. “While we stand firm that the issuance of MAV in-quota allocation is above-board and non-discretionary, we have created a special committee to look into allegations […]

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Politics

CANADA SHOULD TAKE BACK ITS TRASH – PIMENTEL

Senator Koko Pimentel III has supported the call of President Rodrigo Duterte for Canada to take back the garbage it had shipped to the Philippines years back. “No country (no matter how poor) should be treated as a dumping ground of the waste of rich countries. Bawal yan even under international law (That is forbidden […]

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Politics

DA SHOULD RETHINK FISH IMPORTATION POLICY – VILLAR

Senator Cynthia Villar said the Department of Agriculture (DA) should rethink its policy of importation, stressing the danger it poses to the livelihood of small farmers and fisherfolk. The seasoned legislator made this statement after the Department of Agriculture approved the importation of 17,000 metric tons of galunggong (round scad) from China, in a bid […]