Lapeña favors establishment of rice trading center for ZamBaSulTa

ZAMBOANGA CITY – Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña favors the proposal of Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol to establish a rice trading center in Jolo, Sulu or Bongao, Tawi-Tawi, saying that this will generate substantial collections for the Bureau of Customs (BOC).

However, Lapeña was quick to add that, for Piñol’s plan to push through, this should be accompanied by a directive or memorandum from President Rodrigo Duterte that would guide authorities involved in the implementation of anti-smuggling operations in that part of the country.

Piñol had earlier broached the idea of establishing the rice trading center in the south that would allow illegal rice and sugar importers to sell their smuggled products after paying tariff to the government.

“As of now, I have no idea if the President has approved the proposal of Secretary Piñol for the establishment of a rice trading center in Jolo, Sulu and in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi,” Lapeña told reporters here.

Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito said Saturday that the planned to legalize rice smuggling in ZamBaSulTa area would eventually kill the country’s agriculture sector.

At present, the price of rice at the public market of Zamboanga City ranges from R55 to R70 per kilo for commercial rice, while NFA rice is being sold at R32 per kilo.

In some towns in Basilan province and in Sibuco, Zamboanga del Norte, the price of rice reaches as high as P85 per kilo.

Zamboanga City BOC District Collector Atty. Lyceo C. Martinez said he will adhere to the order of Lapeña if the campaign against rice and sugar smuggling in the ZamBaSulTa area should be slowed down or not.

He said that rice and sugar traders from ZamBaSulTa area are bringing in their goods without the necessary importation permit (IP), a reason for the Philippine Navy and the Philippine Coast Guard authorities to hold their cargoes.

Martinez also accompanied Lapeña during his port visit in Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi Friday and Saturday.

Martinez said Lapeña was able to talk to the BOC personnel, and see for himself the condition of the BOC offices in the three provinces.

People in the ZamBaSulTa area also pleading with the President to allow local traders to bring in rice from Sandakan in Sabah, Malaysia since the three island provinces do not produce rice.