COOPERATIVES in the country will be banned from importing rice, Agriculture secretary William Dar said Friday.
At the Senate hearing on agriculture, Sen. Cynthia Villar said farmers’ cooperatives are being used by rice importers to skirt tariff laws.
“They are being used by the traders. Ginamit na ‘yan before eh. Nang makulong, ako pa nagbayad ng kanilang piyansa kasi naawa ako eh. Ginamit sila eh. Nung iniimbestigahan na sila, wala na ‘yung trader. Kawawa ‘yang mga cooperatives na ‘yan,” Villar said.
“They said if you use the coop, you are not paying tariff. Kaya ginagamit na ng rice importer ‘yung coop,” she added.
Dar said the DA has also looked into the concern and has come up with a position.
“I will issue an order not to allow now cooperatives and associations to import (rice),” he said.
Sen. Francis Pangilinan said the cooperatives should instead be assisted by the local government by directly purchasing rice from them.
“Part of the reason na ginagawa ‘yan ng mga coopetives ay sila ay naaanggihan,” he said.
“Doon po natin dalhin [sa local government] ang mga cooperative para huwag na sila mag-import. Magbenta na lang sila nang magbenta sa LGU at ang LGU bumili sa kanila. Doon sila maaanggihan sa tama[na paraan],” he added.
Dar said the agency would comply with the senators’ suggestions.
During the same hearing, Dar also said the government has not issued any import permit for rice since September, considering the current local supply available.(GMA News)
