NEDA HAS ‘GOD COMPLEX,’ ALLOWING EASY IMPORTATION OF AGRI PRODUCTS – UBRA

MANILA, Philippines — The head of a broiler raiser group has accused the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) of having a “god complex” as it supposedly did not consult the country’s agriculture sector when it crafted policies on importation.

Elias Jose Inciong, President of the United Broiler Raisers’ Association (UBRA), referred to Administrative Order (AO) No. 20 series of 2024 during Monday’s hearing before the House of Representatives committee on trade and industry

The directive removes non-tariff barriers when importing agricultural products.

According to Inciong, this stand by the Neda — a supposed preference for importation and market liberalization — hurts the local industry.

“The instant solution of Neda is importation. I cannot accept the declaration recently of Neda Director General (Arsenio) Balisacan that they are not pro-importation,” he told lawmakers.

“They did not have consultations for their recently-crafted A.O. No. 20. There’s no due process,” he said.

“Neda has a god complex. They did not even bother to talk to us. (But) they will actually make importation easier,” Inciong warned.

“We’re faring worse than criminals because at least criminals have due process. For us, we’re being sentenced immediately,” he complained to House members.

READ: Rep Momo: Spike in cost of goods from farm to retail is 215% 

Last April 23, in a press briefing with ACT-CIS party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo and House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, the UBRA president said the problem of local growers and producers being disadvantaged is because Neda’s immediate solution to high prices is allowing more imports.

READ: House execs want to check reason for high cost of basic commodities 

On April 25, NEDA Secretary Arsenio Balisacan released a statement saying that Neda recognizes the concerns of the agriculture sector regarding A.O. No. 20.

He said the policy is necessary to improve the “overall welfare of Filipinos.”

“[Neda] recognizes the concerns of various sectors regarding AO 20, which aims to streamline administrative procedures and policies and eliminate non-tariff barriers to importing agricultural products,” he explained.

READ: House assures poultry sector to review agri-related laws 

“We reassure the public that AO 20 is a strategic and necessary measure to ensure our people’s food security, particularly in terms of availability and affordability of food, and improve the overall welfare of Filipinos,” he added.

INQUIRER.net has sought the side of Neda for its response regarding Inciong’s comments in the House, but it has not replied as of posting time.

2024-04-29T10:29:27Z dg43tfdfdgfd