JV Ejercito “frustrated” with non-implementation of agri laws, blasts focus on importation
August 15, 2024
Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito on Monday
said he is “frustrated” with the non-implementation of the Sugarcane Industry
Development Act and the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act, both of which he
principally authored.
During his interpellation of Senate President
Juan Miguel Zubiri’s privileged speech on the sugar industry, Ejercito cited
the Sugar Regulatory Administration’s (SRA) failure to implement the Sugarcane
Industry Development Act and fully utilize its budget.
“Dito ako nagtataka. The SRA was supposed to
implement and administer itong Sugar Cane Industry Development Act. Were they
so engrossed, mas ginanahan na sila sa importation na they forgot about already
their mandate to oversee the implementation of the Sugar Cane Industry
Development Act, which was designed in revitalizing the sugar cane industry?”
he said.
“Parang mas nagconcentrate sila sa importation
kaysa buhayin yung local industry natin,” he added.
The Sugarcane Industry Development Act
established productivity improvement, research and development, human
development, and extension programs for sugar farmers; mandated infrastructure
support for the sugar industry; and set up a monitoring system on the supply of
sugar.
On the other hand, the Anti-Agricultural
Smuggling Act designated agricultural smuggling into a heinous crime and a form
of economic sabotage.
Ejercito agreed with Zubiri’s observation that
the two laws have yet to be fully enforced and are treated as mere “footnotes”
being studied in law schools.
“As the principal author of these two measures
that are really designed to strengthen our local agricultural industry,
particularly the sugarcane industry, I really am frustrated because six, seven
years after their passage, parang nagging footnote nalang sila sa mga law
lessons,” he said.
Sharing in Ejercito’s frustrations, Zubiri
called on his colleagues to exercise the oversight functions of their
respective committees, highlighting the role of the Senate Committee on
Agriculture and Food in ensuring the full implementation of the country’s
agricultural laws.
“That is our biggest frustration. I think we
should really push for the oversight function of each committee,” he said.
