DA welcomes PPA, BOC action for immediate movement of imported food items
The Department of Agriculture on Tuesday expressed appreciation to the prompt action of Philippine Ports Authority and Bureau of Customs to facilitate the swift movement of imported agricultural products to increase supply in the market and, possibly, lower prices for Filipino consumers.
The PPA said last week that hundreds of container vans loaded with food products, including rice, have been sitting in Manila ports—some of them for several months–as consignees delay their withdrawal. Port officials suspect consignees are trying to reduce warehousing cost or just waiting for prices of the food items to rise as they appear to have imported these items at higher prices.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr. said based on data reviewed by DA, the delay in the shipping and delivery of imported farm products was caused by several storms and weather disturbances, including recent typhoons. “The delay was caused by force majeure,” he said.
The DA chief said the closer cooperation with BOC and PPA will also help DA better time importation to enhance management of domestic food supply and ensure food security.
“This would help up improve our supply and price forecasting and avoid artificial shortages caused by product hoarding. Data that we will gather will also help us determine which importers to blacklist, if needed,” the DA chief said.
The DA is looking at adding requirements to the import permits issued by its agencies, particularly the Bureau of Plant Industry and Bureau of Animal Industry, to ensure that imported agricultural food products are immediately delivered to warehouses and sold to the market.
In a news conference held separately in Malacañang, PPA General Manager Jay Santiago pledged cooperation with the DA on monitoring of food shipments, noting this arrangement will allow the agency to better manage movement of food containers in various seaports and contribute to the improvement of trade and economic activity.
Santiago said as a result of the inspection of 888 “overstaying” container vans last week, around 300 container vans have been pulled out by their consignees. He expects more to be removed from the ports before the end of the
