LA TRINIDAD, Benguet (PIA)–The provincial government of Benguet appeals anew to concerned national agencies to put a stop on the alleged smuggling of highland vegetables.
Governor Melchor Diclas said that the provincial government with the Office of Congressman Eric Go Yap, appealed to the Bureau of Customs and the Department of Agriculture to provide a permanent solution to the alleged smuggling of vegetables which are being sold in different market outlets in Metro Manila and other areas.
“Nung lumalabas ang issue na ito last year, nagsulat na kami agad sa Bureau of Customs at sa Department of Agriculture para tulungan kami para mapahinto itong, kung smuggling man ito or kung walang import permit ito dapat mapahinto ito,” (When the issue on smuggling came out last year, we immediately wrote to the Bureau of Customs and the Department of Agriculture to help the province of Benguet by putting a stop to the alleged vegetable smuggling or import of products without permits), Diclas said during the Network Briefing News online program of the PCOO hosted by Bing Quimpo on Wednesday (February 2).
The continuing sale of these smuggled products affects the vegetable industry of the province of Benguet and the Cordillera region especially the farmers, the governor lamented.
Benguet is the largest producer of highland vegetables producing about 80 percent of the country’s supply.
He said they continue to work with Cong. Yap to ensure that the government agencies in the national level would not allow the entry of smuggled vegetables to prevent the loss of sale and profit of farmers in the province.
Diclas also appeals to consumers to patronize locally produced highland vegetables which are safer to consume. He added that consuming vegetables grown locally will help the farmers and other vegetable industry players who are already affected and challenged by the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic. **JDP/RMC- PIA CAR
