Isko warns vegetable smugglers: Your days are numbered

Presidential aspirant and Manila Mayor Isko Moreno on Wednesday warned vegetable smugglers that their days are numbered even as he vowed to limit the importation of agricultural products that would compete with the produce of the local farmers if he wins in Eleksyon 2022.

“Sa lahat ng mga maggu-gulay, bilang na ang araw ng mga smuggler ng gulay sa Pilipinas. Pagdating ng araw, 'yang mga imported na sibuyas at bawang na 'yan, imported na gulay, sisikip na ang mundo nila (smugglers) sa akin,” Moreno said in town hall meeting in Barangay Sibul, Talavera, Nueva Ecija.

(To all local vegetable farmers, the days of the vegetable smugglers in the Philippines are numbered. When the day comes, the world of smugglers of imported onions and garlic, imported vegetables, will be limited.)

Moreno also lamented the plight of vegetable farmers during calamities, citing that they are forced to let their produce such as tomatoes and carrots rot in the open fields because of low prices.

The Aksyon Demokratiko standard bearer also vowed to limit the rice importation “for purposes of reserve” that will be used only during times of calamities.

He further said that he would issue stricter guidelines in importation of pork and chicken, saying that “Filipino farmers first.”

“The entire Luzon is producing meat. Ang gagawin natin ay sa latter part ng taon mag-import (What we will do is we will only import on the latter part of the year) as augmentation when there is a big demand for chicken and pork. We will do the same with the importation of rice. We should prioritize our farmers. Filipino farmers first,” he said.

Moreno earlier said that he will institute policies that would cut the cost of food production to ensure food security in the country.

If elected, the Manila mayor said he will introduce “Buhay at Kabuhayan” under his administration to cut taxes on oil and electricity by 50%.

He also urged Filipino farmers to plant more high value crops to meet the local demand.—Richa Noriega/AOL, GMA News