SOLON VOWS TO CONTINUE TO HELP CURB VEGETABLE SMUGGLING

April 9, 2022 Headlines

Benguet Caretaker Rep. Eric Go Yap committed to continue the fight against the smuggling of agricultural products, particularly highland vegetables, to help Benguet farmers.
Yap said since last year, he has been coordinating with the Bureau of Customs and directly urging BOC officials to institute steps to stop the entry of smuggled vegetables, especially since the majority of the constituents of Benguet are farmers whose main source of living is agriculture.
Yap earlier sought a congressional inquiry on smuggling but this did not push through, the reason why he talked to BOC, which led to the seizure of containers worth 30 million pesos at a Zambales port containing mis-declared vegetables by a joint task force led by the BOC recently.
Aside from coordinating with the BOC central office, Yap said he is planning to establish a trading post in Metro Manila, Cavite, and Laguna, as well as construct more farm-to-market roads. Marie Rose Betbet-Fongwan, a Benguet advocate, is also pushing for the construction of a sustainable livelihood center for the province to help farmers and small entrepreneurs market their products.
Yap assured that government officials suspected to be involved in smuggling are already being investigated, as confirmed by the Department of Agriculture.
Earlier, DA Secretary William Dar said their investigation of officials including the DA is ongoing and assured that once their involvement in smuggling is proven they will be facing appropriate charges.