Author: malourdesaguiba

The private sector has stood pat in its support for a “legal” regime in rice sector via issuance of special safeguard duty (SSG) on imports despite import suspension’s temporary relief from influx of imported rice.

   The Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food Inc (PCAFI) asserted the SSG measure, with the benefit of being sanctioned by Republic Act 11203, the Rice Tarrification Act, still needs to be implemented by January or February 2020.

   This is to ensure imports will not coincide with harvest by dry season  in March to April 2020, the peak harvest of the 2-season crop.  It will help support farmgate price of palay (unhusked rice) to at least P17 per kilo.

   “It takes 30 to 60 days to implement the law.  So it should be issued January-February.  A suspension is against the prevailing law on ‘no QR’ (quantative restriction),” said PCAFI President Danilo V. Fausto,” a dairy entrepreneur who also plants rice.

   As the SSG is ideally issued just for that dry harvest window, the SSG may also be immediately lifted once harvest is finished.

   The benefit of SSG, aside from being sanctioned by section 10 of RA 11203, is it automatically puts a cap on imports as price of imported rice becomes at parity with local prices, making Filipino farmers’ rice competitive.

   PCAFI has maintained the needed duty on imported rice is 70%. At rice’s world market price of $360 per metric ton, imported rice’s landed cost stands at P17 per kilo which makes it hit a P32-P34 per kilo retail price, just matching domestic produce, when added with 70% duty and traders’ margin.

   With imported price just matching domestic rice produce, traders will opt to rather defer importation as imports lose price advantage of the locals.

   While worried about its inflationary effect, PCAFI brushed aside such fear of inflation amid SSG implementation.

   Even if domestic rice price inches up a little due to a little higher rice price for consumers, inflation may just hit just 1.3%.  This is much within government’s targeted 2-4% limit.  Yet this will do a huge help of rescue for Filipino farmers, said Fausto.

   Section 10 of RA 11203 states  “In order to protect the Philippine rice industry from sudden or extreme price fluctuations, a special safeguard duty on rice shall be imposed in accordance with R.A. No. 8800, otherwise known as the ‘Safeguard Measures Act’ and its implementing rules and regulations.” (Melody Mendoza Aguiba)

October 20, 2019

The private sector has warned government of possible lawsuits for “illegally” refusing to enforce the “mandated” safeguards against rice imports in Nazi-like reasoning that it is a choice between “105 million Filipinos versus 10 million farmers.”

   The Philippine Chamber of Agriculture & Food (PCAFI) said the Department of Agriculture (DA) and government’s economic managers are committing an “illegal act” for deliberate abandonment of its poorest sector despite claims of “inclusive” development.

   It is explicitly indicated in Section 10 Republic Act 11203 (Rice Tarrification Law ) Section 10 that “in order to protect the Philippine rice industry from extreme price fluctuations, a special safeguard duty—SSG– on rice shall be imposed.”

   As such it is incumbent upon government to enforce the safeguards legal mandate.

   “Although it is not their (DA and economic managers) intention, but the argument that we should choose 105 million Filipinos as against 10 million farmers (psa.gov.ph, 2018)  is like Hitler justifying the killing of six million German Jews to save the German Aryan nation.

   “They have yet to effectively implement the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund, but they led them to slaughter,” said Lawyer Elias Jose M. Inciong, PCAFI director.

   PCAFI President Danilo V. Fausto said granting farmers an additional P3 billion cash assistance in place of implementing SSG on rice imports is tantamount to “violating the law” itself.

   This may subject government authorities to court suits.

“That is a clear analogy that like the German Nazi and Hitler, you are willing to slaughter 10 million farmers to save 105 million consumers. But farmers are also consumers. That’s why inflation is just at 0.9 percent because farmers don’t have the money to buy. Demand is low,” said Fausto.

   The DA and economic managers are misleading the public by claiming implementing SSG is inflationary.

   “This is a diversionary tactic to protect those who benefited from this law which are importers. The ones favored by this law are not consumers, much more not farmers, but importers.  They’re trying to divert us from the fact that so far the importers are the beneficiaries of the law,” said Inciong.

   It is utterly unfair that government is insulting its own farmers by giving a cash consolation of P3 billion (as earlier announced by DA) in place of the safeguards mandate. 

   “The government really looks down on farmers.  It is in bad faith to even argue that safeguards are inflationary.  They’re in bad faith for refusing to implement the law,” said Inciong.

   “The law mandates Section 10 of RA 11203, meaning the executive has no choice but to impose it.  The meaning of impose is to establish the mechanism,” said Inciong, a lawyer and also president of the United Broiler Raisers Association some of whose farmer-members are planting rice.

  Government should start having a new perspective on farmers.

   “Farmers don’t plant to save the agriculture industry.  They plant to sustain their livelihood, to have income.  The government should now see farmers not as welfare beneficiaries, but as a business sector that needs to profit,” Fausto said.

   Inciong said government’s task under the law is simply to come up with a mechanism implementing the SSG based on either price or volume triggers. 

   If, for instance, the trigger price is set at P35 per kilo and the landed price of imported rice hits below P35, an SSG should automatically be implemented. The lower it is from the trigger price, the bigger the duties to be imposed.

   “The only thing DA has to do is to issue an order requesting the Commissioner of Customs through the Department of Finance. It is in bad faith to say it is inflationary because they can suspend the SSG anytime.  That claim has no credence,” said Inciong.

   Unfortunately, DA is apparently refusing to even come up with this mechanism.

   “The way the law was crafted and in practice, when you say impose, you establish the mechanism. The mechanism is to find out what is the trigger– when to apply the special safeguard, either price or volume trigger”

   So far, the indicative volume trigger of rice imports must have already been hit as “we only need 1.9 million tons of imports, but our importation has already hit 3 million tons according to (DA Secretary William) Dar himself,” said Fausto.(Melody Mendoza Aguiba)

October 14, 2019

Food and agriculture processors have asked for a sugar import allocation of an estimated 105,000 metric tons (MT) annually to stabilize their manufacturing input and raise their global competitiveness with heftily lower cost.

   The Philippine Chamber of Agriculture & Food Inc (PCAFI) and member  Philippine Food Processors &  Exporters Organization (Philfoodex) is asking Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar to grant a maximum of 10% sugar import allocation.

   This is out of the country’s annual sugar production placed at 2.1 million MT.  However, even just half of this amount, or 105,000 MT will be good enough to significantly raise food processors’ global competitiveness.

   It will cut sugar cost for food manufacturing from P55-P60 per kilo locally to P28-P30 per kilo in other South East Asian countries, particularly Thailand.

   PCAFI President Danilo V Fausto said this petition of PCAFI and PHilfoodex for an import allocation will be accompanied by an implementation mechanism to ensure it does not adversely affect local sugar farmers’ plight.

   “We’ll issue a petition to be submitted to Secretary Dar and President (Rodrigo) Duterte. We will also propose an implementation mechanism that will ensure this allocation will not go to the retail market but rather help our food producers become competitive,” said Fausto.

   Philfoodex President Roberto C. Amores said not even the entire 10% of production will be asked by processors.

   Initially, only 50% of each company’s sugar requirement based on its production program is proposed to be granted to the company.

   “We’re not talking about even 10% of the 2.1 million.  We’re not requesting for liberalization. We’re requesting for import allocation for stabilization for the cause of processors,” Amores said.

   “As a processor, you will submit your requirements based on your production program and sales. And you will be given only 50% of your requirement (not 100%).”

   This initial allocation per processor will establish credibility of the processor. 

   The processor should  guarantee that the sugar import will be used solely as input for its food manufacturing, not for retail to the domestic market (adversely affecting sugar farmers’ income).

   Dr. Rolandy Dy, Center for Food & Agribusiness (University of Asia & the Pacific) chief and PCAFI member, said the sugar import allocation for local food processors is necessary.

   “We’re not competitive.  Never mind (if we’re not competitive in) softdrinks which is not exportable because softdrinks are heavy. The problem is we’re not competitive in products like biscuits, candies,” said Dy.

   Filipino food processors can hardly compete with ASEAN biscuit manufacturers.

   “I’m talking about those 4,500 food processors who are paying P55 versus P28. When Apollo biscuits from Malaysia (or Indonesia) arrive here, it’s only P10. Pero pag gumawa si Mang Pandoy ng Apollo biscuits nya, P15 ang puhunan nya,” said Amores.

   (If Filipino businessman Mang Pandoy produces his own Apollo biscuit, his cost is at P15).

   Some groups have opposed such allocation due to past experiences when some imports for manufacturing input have been diverted to the domestic market. 

   This concerns not only sugar, but other imports such as carabeef (carabao meat from India).

   But a proven effective mechanism to control such diversion is to make the food manufacturers themselves to police their ranks, PCAFI said.

   Fausto said members of PCAFI, Philfoodex, and the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industries (PCCI) may be tasked to monitor if the import allocation is being diverted to the market.

   Amores stressed food processors’ import need is not for liberalization.

   “I would like to correct the impression that this is liberalization. The sugar industry in Negros has been writing all over the news that the private sector led by me is espousing liberalization. It’s not,” he said.

   “We all know that since our sugar sector is not competitive, we can’t be self-sufficient in sugar as sugar area is declining.  But we have to admit some traders are riding on this issue in the guise of protecting farmers.”

   Also, it is initially proposed that the state-owned Philippine International Trading Corp (PITC) be the one to do the importation.

   Philfoodex lamented that while the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) had once approved sugar importation for 170,000 MT, this volume has not benefited food processors.

   Since SRA issued a memorandum allowing this volume to be designated as “reserve,” some of this sugar found their way into the domestic market since reserve sugar is allowed to be released domestically.

   “But we have not benefitted from this allocation,” said Amores. (Melody Mendoza Aguiba)

October 2, 2019         

A rice tariff of at least 70%, as sanctioned by the Rice Tariffication Law’s (RTL) safeguards provision, was pressed to be urgently implemented by government to arrest further imports hitting beyond all-time high records, saving Filipino farmers.

   The safeguards will also save government from needing to spend huge funds for conditional cash transfer or farmers’ loan, now placed by Department of Agriculture (DA) at P15 billion, just to spare Filipino farmers from serious economic damage.

   The private sector, representing thousands of Filipino farmers under its wings in the supply chain, has pegged desired rice tariff to at least 70% in order to beef up global competitiveness of  Filipino produce.

   At the same time, the Philippine Chamber of Agriculture& Food Inc. (PCAFI) asserted that it strongly supports the RTL, contrary to what may be perceived by some groups.

   “We are supporting the law. Therefore let’s implement the law. We want the law, that’s why we want it implemented,” said PCAFI President Danilo V. Fausto.

    PCAFI warned the continuous influx of cheap imported rice may threaten the country’s national security, prompting hungry farmers in the rural areas to resort to joining communist rebels.

   “We have to assess the situation because any further damage may affect our national security.”

   Unlike the position of some groups adversely affected by the RTL, Fausto said PCAFI wants RTL upheld through immediate implementation of its explicit provisions.

   “We’re not asking for a repeal of the law or an amendment of the law.  And if the law says, section 10 of Republic Act there are safeguards, let’s implement it.”

   A tariff rate of at least 70 percent should be reasonable enough to give the Filipino farmers at least the “temporary” yet extra edge against imports.

   “Our palay price is now at around P12 per kilo. But NFA should buy it at P17 (to aid farmers).  At that buying price, it will sell in the retail market at P34 per kilo, when milled.  Then domestic rice will even out with the imported at P34,” said Fausto.

   With price of both domestic and imported rice at same level, “why would you bother importing?”

   Ernesto Ordonez, PCAFI trustee and Agri Fisheries Alliance (AFA) chairman, said the imposition of safeguards from the current 35% level is urgent even as there are trade notification rules involved.

   AFA is composed of five sectors: farmers and fisherfolk, (Alyansa Agrikultura-AA), agribusiness, PCAFI, science and technology (Coalition for Agriculture Modernization in the Philippines – CAMP), rural women (Pambansang Kilusan ng Kababaihan sa Kanayunan – PKKK), and multisectors (Agrifisheries 2025 – AF2025). 

   “We do not want a repeat of the mistake during the 1990’s when we agreed to the too rapid tariff reduction without giving the farmers the necessary support services and the WTO-approved safeguard measures,” said Ordonez.

   Ordonez cited the Department of Agriculture September 9 national survey where imported rice with the 35% tariff caused farmgate wet palay prices in Regions 2, 3, 11 averaged P12.10 a kilo, barely above the P12 production cost.

   CAMP President Emil Javier favored measures like cash transfers and assistance in credit, technology, and marketing.

   AFA stated it rejects calls for a return to government rice import monopoly and supports food security instead of food self-sufficiency.

   “In areas where rice production is not competitive, the government must provide assistance for transition to higher value crops,” said Ordonez.

   The tariff protection under safeguards will just be a temporary, a transitory, policy, PCAFI asserted.

   “DA should immediately implement it as promised it should be by October 1.  Anyway, that will just  temporary, while we’re trying to give our farmers time to upgrade their competitiveness.”

   Now at 2.4 to 2.5 million MT (MT), imports must immediately be curbed.  The Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA)  placed projected import for the year to hit 2.6 million MT.

   Fausto said even a P34 against P34 per kilo Filipino against import price will be enough.

   Imported rice is currently being traded at around P17 per kilo.  With trader’s overhead, it rises to P20 per kilo, and finally to P27, P28 per kilo in the retail market (with logistics costs). 

  “But imported rice should be at least equal the local market price.  That will make them lose over domestic rice.  Now, NFA should ensure farmers dictate the buying price of palay at P17 per kilo for dry and P13, P14 per kilo for wet.”

   PCAFI Trustee Elias Inciong is questioned why some groups may be opposing the safeguards implementation even if they are representing sectors that are not rice-related as compared to suffering rice farmers.

   “They don’t want higher tariff?  Why?  Because it will affect consumers? (or their businesses?)”

   But PCAFI, some of whose members themselves plant rice in poverty stricken, rural areas, want more protection for precious but few Filipino farmers that remain sustaining to raise the country’s food security.

   Under Republic Act 880, the Safeguard Measures Act, safeguards may be imposed in the following conditions (Rule 2.2a-c) all of which conditions are reported to have been happening after the RTL implementation:

• significant idling of productive facilities in the domestic industry including the closure of plants (rice mills) or underutilization of production capacity
• inability of a significant number of firms to carry out domestic production at a profit
• significant unemployment or underemployment within the domestic industry.

September 21, 2019                                                                        

The Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food Inc. (PCAFI) supports the call of the Samahan ng Industriya sa Agrikultura (SIK) for government to suspend importation of pork until a genuine quarantine system is in place at Customs borders.

   That policy will not only ensure animal protection from infection of the dreaded African swine fever (ASF). It will also ensure that proper tariffs and duties are paid.

   The government—the Bureau of Customs (BOC)—currently does not have the full capability to carry out strict biosecurity system that will guarantee that no imported meat products infected with ASF will enter the country.

   These BOC deficiencies include the absence of  refrigerated facilities where the meat products may be adequately inspected for quarantine systems by the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) and the system for proper collection of tariffs and duties.

   These deficiencies derail implementation of proper  animal and food safety along with proper revenue collection from meat imports.

   “The current ‘make-do’ second border system inside the cold storage facility of the importer is meaningless in terms of proper collection of tariffs and duties, quarantine and food safety,” said PCAFI President Danilo V. Fausto.

   Such government practice of allowing meat imports to be directly transported to warehouse of importers before these are evaluated for quarantine procedures and charged with tariffs and duties have long been questioned by agriculture stakeholders.

   “The Bureau of Customs has no refrigerated facilities within the  Port of Manila which has prevented the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) from implementing quarantine protocols,” Fausto said.

   Poultry and livestock industry stakeholders have long recommended that all meat imports should just go through a single port with the necessary facilities for a full quarantine process.

   The agriculture stakeholders have asserted government’s role in implementing biosecurity systems against ASF will be crucial. 

   Likewise, all local government units (LGUs) should consistently impose on all backyard hog raisers to obtain business permit for their operations even as some LGUs do not even know that hog backyard raisers exist in their jurisdiction. 

   LGUs will have a critical role in this biosecurity system considering that nearly 70 percent of all hog production in the Philippines comes from backyard raisers. 

   “LGUs should be held liable on the control of African swine fever within their area,” said Fausto.

   At the same time, even sari-sari store operators should be monitored for keeping business permits through which a system may be implemented on controlling consumption of meat that may be affected by the disease. 

Stricter biosecurity measure on pigs urged by PCAFI after hog disposal in Marikina river

September 13, 2019

The private sector has urged government to implement stricter biosecurity measures against the spread of Asian swine fever (ASF) on hogs but also assured consumers that humans cannot be infected by the disease.

   The Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food (PCAFI) urged the Department of Agriculture (DA) and local government units (LGU) to intensify implementation of protocol in disposing of dead hogs.  This as some of the dead hogs suspected of having been infected by ASF have been found floating in the Marikina River.   

   “Offenders should be prosecuted as this is apparently a violation of certain memorandum act of DA regarding the disposal of dead hogs,” said PCAFI President Danilo V. Fausto.  “Stricter implementation of biosecurity procedures should be observed.”

   At the same time, Fausto said there should also be more information program declaring the scare against hog consumption since ASF does not adversely affect human health.

   “People should not be afraid of ASF,” said Fausto.

   Edwin Chen, president of PCAFI member Pork Producers Federation of the Phils (Propork), said hog raisers, particularly those from small backyards, should be advised to observe proper disposal of dead hogs.

   “If the farm is in the backyard, the hogs (affected by the disease) should be culled first then buried immediately outside the farm at a depth (that may not be disturbed by other animals.) Depending on the number, it should be within a certain depth, maybe two meters if there are only a few.”

   “In commercial farms or in a locality, DA people have a designated areas for burying these. The site should not be near a waterway or a creek.”

   DA spokesman Noel Reyes said government will be prosecuting offenders on the handling of dead hogs based on the Animal Welfare Act and the Solid Waste Management Law.

   There are several other ways of controlling spread of ASF, according to authorities. The Disease and Welfare guide of the Pigsite.com advises the following:

• Prevention of feeding of contaminated feed and contaminated food waste used to supplement hog feed
• Control of the animals from the bites of soft bodied ticks, lies and flies
• Prevention of inoculation of the pigs with contaminated syringes and use of contaminated surgical equipment
• Prevention of introduction of infected pigs with uninfected ones. (Melody M. Aguiba)
•  

September 2, 2019

The government will impose sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures against imported rice as imports have ballooned to 2.2 million metric tons (MT) for a quality found to be “bukbok-packed” (pests) to Filipino consumers’ health detriment.

   Imported rice has been found in the past to be needing heavy pesticide-spraying due to the bukbok.

   Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary William D. Dar said Saturday DA at a forum with the Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food Inc (PCAFI) said government will impose SPS measures. 

   This is sanctioned within its agreement with the World Trade Organization (WTO) to curb poor quality rice imports.

   “We have asked BPI (Bureau of Plant Industry)  to implement protocol in import regulations regarding pesticide residue, presence of storage pests before the issuance of SPS (certificate) for imported rice,” said Dar at the PCAFI meeting held at the Quezon City Sports Club.

   Dar said DA will correct several policies and impose new ones to ensure the benefit of both Filipino farmers and consumers.

   “Those that say DA should rather be called Department of Importation, to some extent that’s true.  And we will correct that eventually.” Dar said.

   One of the policies being studied is the recommendation of PCAFI for the imposition of special safeguard measures, similarly sanctioned by the WTO, to ensure entry of dumped rice does not endanger the local industry.

   “We’re also now studying the possibility of special and general safeguards measure.  If there’s excessive rice import, we will limit these.  We will stop rice from coming from its origin as it’s affected by bukbok,” said Dar.

   PCAFI President Danilo V. Fausto said such special safeguard measure is a government right as part of protecting its own people.

   Section 7 of Republic Act 11203 (Rice Tariffication Act) indicates government may “increase, reduce, revise” import duty rates (given certain conditions) consistent with “national interest” and the “objective of protection Filipino farmers and consumers.”

   These are possibly other immediate measures of DA in protecting farmers and consumers from the adverse effect of RA 11203 implementation:

• Imposition of a Suggested Retail Price (SRP) “when figures don’t reflect true value of price” to ensure traders do not take advantage of the situation by “managing” or stopping inflow of supply to domestic market, thereby causing price to shoot up. 
• DA will study the reason why rice price has not gone down considering huge imports since March upon ratification of RA 11203.
• Government will legislate increase in rice buffer stock from 30 days to 90 days.  This will provide higher government budget for buying of palay of Filipino farmers’ produce, ensuring better income for farmers.  This may also raise National Food Authority’s (NFA) ability to buy rice from Filipino farmers up to 5% of total rice production, versus the current 1% or less.
• Enjoining Local Government Units (LGUs) to engage in the business of buying palay, milling, storing, and distributing with the objective of immediately releasing rice stocks so that “turnover” of the value of rice may be realized, bringing multiple profits to Filipino farmers and other stakeholders.  LGUs may also manage warehousing and maintenance of farm machineries as part of a “tripartite agreement” with DA and farmers.
• National Food Authority’s  warehouses will be leased out to LGUs  who have the advantage of strategically being located where farmers’ produce are, thereby becoming efficient in managing this business.

   However, Fausto warned DA should ensure that this LGU business of rice buying and selling should be an “honest to goodness” one and should not be used by LGU leaders just to benefit those that patronize them.

   “You have to be very careful because LGU leaders are political people.  You can legalize vote buying through this system.  We’re not generalizing all political leaders.  But at the end of the day, some look for votes so that they or their relatives will win again next term,” said Fausto.

   “It should be an honest to goodness way of buying of palay from all sectors, and selling to all.  It should not only benefit the selected few (voters),” Fausto said.  

   This new LGU rice buying and selling, though, definitely has advantage in providing budget for maintenance of warehouses and rice machineries.

   “There’s no issue if government maintains machineries.  There should be training of people on these skills and in marketing goods.  If the machines break down, or the warehouses need repair, there will be a budget that may be lent to the LGU,” said Fausto.  (Melody M. Aguiba-Growth Publishing)

Non-tariff measures, legislated Land Use Plan to be adopted by Duterte Admin as milestone policies for agri modernization

September 1, 2019

Non-tariff measures (NTM) and a legislated Land Use Plan will be adopted by the Duterte Administration as major milestone policies that are seen to catapult Philippines to agricultural modernization.

   In a forum with the Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food Inc. (PCAFI), Department of Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar declared Saturday these two major policies as an official government stance for the first time since Philippines joined the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 1995.

   The NTMs will include subsidies for ensuring Filipino farmers will be globally competitive and will have capability to export goods. 

   NTMs will also support Filipino farmers in the form of stricter sanitary and phytosanitary rules for imported goods and other support–  farm to market roads, post harvest facilities, research fund, skills development upgrading.

   “If we need to subsidize, we must subsidize.  That’s a policy direction. There are many ways, not only subsidy, that may be used under the WTO (to help farmers).  New equations, when you promote these in a big way, (will benefit farmers). We will take this route so we can become productive and competitive,” said Dar at a PCAFI meeting at the Quezon City Sports Club .

   Dar’s declared policy toward NTM was a response to PCAFI’s position that the government has not supported the local farm sector with NTMs openly practiced by developed countries (United States, Japan, European countries).

  PCAFI President Danilo V. Fausto said the US government approved a Farm Bill providing for $850 billion budget including subsidies for American farmers.

   “That’s against our P70 billion budget that’s all there is for our farmers for this year,” said Fausto.

   Also PCAFI member, Lawyer Elias Jose Inciong of the United Broilers and Raisers Association, said the National Economic Development Authority and other economic team members in the country have all along ignored the fact that foreign farmers are heavily subsidized.

   The Doha Development Round of WTO that commenced in 2001 in fact broke down because developed countries refused to give in to removing subsidies, all other trade support, for their own farmers.

   “What enables other farmers is subsidy. That’s why the Doha development round of WTO, the development aspect, has been abandoned. Its’ not there anymore. Yet, our policy making is very silent on the issue of subsidy.  The economic team will rather blame the agriculture sector of not being competitive or of having protectionist mindset,” said Inciong.

   “But obviously our farmers don’t have subsidy.  Ever since we got into the WTO, we’re competing not only with foreign partners, foreign companies, but foreign governments who subsidize their sector,” said Inciong.

   Dar also took a position that a Land Use Act (LUA) should be legislated, a major policy pushed by the private sector for many years as it protects use for agriculture, but a policy that faced opposition from some legislators.

   “Our position is we don’t have a land use system. That’s the issue of land conversion on one side.  But bright agricultural lands, much more those with irrigation system, must not be converted (for industrial or residential use,”  Dar said.

   Fausto said the LUA will solicify the presence of investors in agriculture.

   “Our investors will have stability with Land Use Act. They’re putting in millions and millions in investments.  But at the end of the day, their land may be converted because we don’t have a proper land use law.  Lands that are perfectly productive should remain producing food for our country,” said Fausto.

   Dar said the LUA would have been ratified a long time ago.

   “The issue of land use is issue has been there for the last 30 years.  We hope this time around, it has to be legislated.  There should be a comprehensive land use for every area.  (Even without the law yet), Local Government Units should now go forward and  start land use planning,” said Dar.

   The PCAFI forum with Dar was attended by close to 200 agriculture sector leaders in the private sector coming from 23 different farm subsectors. (Melody M. Aguiba)