Critics of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. urged the country’s highest official on Tuesday to protect the interest of small farmers and fishermen by putting to stop the rampant smuggling of agricultural products from China and assert the country’s national sovereignty.
Marcos is expected to sign at least 10 bilateral agreements with China during the state visit, including agreements on trade and investments, agriculture, renewable energy, infrastructure, development cooperation, people-to-people ties, and maritime security.
In a news statement, the Kilusang Magsasaka ng Pilipinas (KMP) said they expect Marcos to discuss the situation on the illicit trade and rampant smuggling of agricultural products from China to the Philippines.
“Despite China being the Philippines’ top trade partner in 2021, with total trade valued at $38.35 billion, there is still an unimaginable extent of illicit trade. Smuggled onions from China have pushed up onion retail prices by as much as P700 per kilo in local markets. This is very alarming,” KMP Chairman Danilo Ramos said.
“As the concurrent agriculture secretary, it is only just for Marcos Jr. to diplomatically call the attention of Chinese authorities regarding the unbridled, large-scale smuggling of billions worth of vegetables from China. Chinese law enforcers should exert utmost efficiency to curb, repress and dispose of all smuggling activities and crimes at their Customs control areas and prescribed coastal or border areas especially Hong Kong,” Ramos added.
Ramos also cautioned the President on any plan to continue the Philippines-China agricultural cooperation signed by former President Rodrigo Duterte and Chinese leader Xi Jinping in 2016, saying it will affect our efforts and demand for food security and food self-sufficiency.
The said agricultural trade agreement led to China becoming the Philippines’ third-largest export destination of agricultural products and its second-largest import source of farm products, KMP’s Rafael Mariano said for his part.
Mariano said the Marcos administration should instead strengthen local food production for the Filipino people.
For its part, fisherfolk group Pamalakaya said the Marcos administration “should not miss the chance to assert and uphold our rights in the West Philippine Sea.”
“We urge the President to boldly demand Chinese President Xi Jinping to stop the intimidating presence of Chinese militia and large fishing vessels to Filipino fishers,” the group stressed.
According to Pamalakaya, Marcos should not set aside such pressing matters just to acquire foreign investment and loans from China.
“We believe that China’s monetary liabilities to the Philippines are indeed far greater than the foreign loans and investments it would extend to the country,” the group stressed.