October 25, 2006

Philippine poultry raisers join hog raisers in smuggling concerns

Chicken producers joined the call of hog raisers to revive the antismuggling task force under the Office of the President as the holiday approaches and unscrupulous traders are expected to take advantage of the increase in demand for farm produce to flood the market with cheap imports. 

This comes days after the National Federation of Hog Farmers warned the government of the increasing incidences of pork smuggling from China that could affect government's efforts to eradicate foot and mouth disease (FMD) and severely affect their industry.       

    
Gregorio San Diego, president of the United Broiler Raisers' Association (Ubra) told the Business Mirror that the revival of the National Antismuggling Task Force (NASTF), which includes private sector representatives, is particularly critical in ensuring that bird flu does not get a toehold in the country.

Aside from chicken products, Peking ducks are also reportedly being smuggled into the country, said San Diego. 

Ubra is composed of small-scale chicken producers and San Diego said crisises such as bird-flu infection could wipe them out completely.

The President created the NASTF on Mar 10, 2004. Immediately after the presidential elections that year, the NASTF was abolished and its functions were transferred to Customs. 

Senators led by Juan Ponce Enrile and Manuel Roxas II have been pushing for its revival since 2004 given its perceived effectiveness in checking smuggling activities.

National Federation of Hog Farmers Inc. president Albert Lim Jr agrees the antismuggling task was more effective in checking the entry of illegal goods.