VILLAR HITS AT SMUGGLING OF ONIONS
AND GARLICS IN ILOCOS PROVINCES

LAOAG Senate President Manny Villar, President of the Nacionalista Party, in his dialogue with local farmers in Ilocos Norte, expressed alarm over the worsening incidents of smuggling of local produce in the province particularly onions and garlics.

According to Villar, I was approached by groups of farmers here and they sought for my help in addressing smuggling problems in the province which have adversely affected their livelihood. According to them, smuggling has become even rampant in recent months.

I will definitely look into this. During my chairmanship of the agriculture committee, I have conducted investigations and inquiries regarding smuggling. I will ask my colleagues in the Senate to again conduct a probe on this, adds Villar.

Despite the local farmers plea, the country has been heavily importing onions and garlic in recent years. In 2003, garlic at 18,000 tons valued at $3.7 million was imported and 23,420 tons valued at $6.72 million in 2005.

Meanwhile imported onions totaling 30,670 tons valued at $5 million swamped the market in 2005. Import of onions and garlic was estimated as still significant last year since typhoons hit Central and Northern Luzon and farmers were not able to produce crops.

Talaga naman na nakakaawa at napakahirap ng sitwasyon ng mga local farmers, dapat natin silang suportahan sa paglaban sa mga smugglers. May mga nahuhuli o nahaharang na mga smuggled goods ang ating otoridad, pero ang mga ito ay napakaliit na porsyento lamang ng mga smuggled goods, cites Villar. Villar was in Ilocos Norte on Wednesday till Thursday as part of his campaign trail.

Villar further cites, When I was in Ilocos Sur, I heard from local farmers that they are also having problems with smuggling of garlic, one of their local crops there. So the problem is not concentrated in one area only, thus we have to seriously address it.