Sinag lauds anti agri smuggling position of Poe-Escudero

The 33-member agricultural stakeholders group lauded the advocacy of Gobyernong may Puso candidates to devote more funds for agriculture and the same time getting stricter against smuggling of agricultural products.

 

Samahang Industriya sa Agrikultura Chairman Rosendo So said leading candidates for president Grace Poe and Chiz Escudero is the only tandem that has prioritized genuine concern for families that depend on agriculture.

 

“Increasing the budget for agriculture four times its present budget and stopping smuggling is a clear policy towards helping the families dependent on agriculture,” So said.

 

Escudero recently said that Gobyernong may Puso will infuse P300 billion into agriculture and assured that anti-smuggling measures will be a priority of the government led by Poe.

 

“Hindi lang ang mga kalamidad at kawalan ng suporta mula sa pamahalaan ang matinding kalaban ng ating mga magsasaka kung hindi rin ang walang humpay na smuggling ng mga produktong agrikultura galing sa ibang bansa tulad ng bawang, sibuyas at asukal,” the veteran lawmaker said.

 

Pangasinan Federation of Irrigators Association president Oftociano Manalo Jr. said that the anti-smuggling stance of Poe and Escudero drives away financers involved in smuggling.

 

“Matinong kandidatong ayaw sa pera ng smugglers para sa matinong gobyerno na walang smuggling… ayos na sa amin,” Manalo said.