Alunan wants strong agri sector before opening market to more sugar imports

The Philippine government must first strengthen the local agriculture sector before opening up the market to more sugar importers, former Interior Secretary Rafael "Raffy" Alunan III said.

"Kailangan before we import, kailangan nating patibayin muna 'yung lakas ng ating mga farmers to be able to withstand the onslaught of imports," he said on GMA's "Debate 2019."

Alunan, vying for a Senate seat in this year's midterm polls, was asked for his views on the plans of the government to liberalize the sugar industry and open up the country to more imports to temper rising prices of commodities.

President Rodrigo Duterte already issued Administrative Order 13, which deregulated sugar importation, in September 2018, when inflation was at a nine-year high of 6.7 percent.

"Marami tayong naligtaan 'pag dating sa capability building or capacity building ng ating mga magsasaka," said Alunan.

The local agriculture sector grew by only 0.8 percent for the full-year 2018, slower than the 4.0 percent in 2017, largely due to typhoons during the year.

—NB, GMA News