The Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG) on Tuesday welcomed the impending confirmation of Secretary Ralph Recto as head of the Department of Finance (DOF).
“It is high time that the DOF will be headed by someone who is not only competent in the field of finance and economics, but more who has deep understanding of the agriculture sector,” said SINAG Chair Rosendo So.
Local producers have long worked with Recto from the time he was elected as the Representative of the 4th District of Batangas in 1996, and as a three term Senator from 2001-2007 and 2010-2022.
Recto was a key ally in the enactment of the Rice Tariffication Law and in exposing the perennial problem of agricultural smuggling and other illicit trade that have greatly impacted the development of the sector.
“We are confident that the narrative of further tariff reduction of agri commodities will be reversed under the leadership of Secretary Recto,” added So.
As the Secretary of Finance, which oversees the Bureau of Customs (BOC), Secretary Recto has also committed to put an end to the rampant practice of undervaluation and misdeclaration of agricultural imports that deprive the government of much needed revenues.
“Naniniwala tayo na di tulad ng mga dating kalihim ng DOF, papanig si Secretary Recto sa kapakanan ng mga magsasaka,” continued So.
Secretary Recto is likewise fully supporting the construction of the country’s first ever Cold Examination Facility in Agriculture (CEFA), a state-of-the-art examination facility of all imported animal, fish, plant, and other agricultural commodities, in Angat, in Bulacan.
“CEFA is crucial in our efforts in strengthening our first border inspections capabilities that will lessen, if not totally eradicate, agricultural smuggling.”
“We are looking forward in finally working with the DOF, thru the leadership of Secretary Ralph Recto,” the group concluded
SINAG sees better revenue collection, decreased smuggling with Recto at helm of DOF
