Agri group Sinag lauds NBI findings against garlic syndicate

MANILA, Philippines—The Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (Sinag) on Monday welcomed the decision of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to file charges before the Office of the Ombudsman against erring officials of the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) and members of the National Garlic Action Team (NGAT) that cornered at least 75 percent of the country’s total garlic importation.

“We thank the NBI for nailing this garlic cartel,” said Sinag Chair Rosendo So in a statement issued to media.

So said Sinag has long claimed that unscrupulous traders and smugglers, in cahoots with misguided government officials, were to blame for last year’s controversial garlic price hike.

Sinag stressed that local garlic producers are still struggling to recover from the 20-year policy of wanton importation and smuggling in lieu of domestic production.

“With less than 15 percent of the country’s garlic requirements produced locally, importers and traders that form the garlic cartel continue to dictate prices since there’s no local production to counter the steep price of imported and/or smuggled garlic,” So added.

Despite an uphill battle against smugglers and cartels, Sinag said the agriculture sector is seeing a steady revival in the last few years. “Local producers are again encouraged and revitalized to produce the country’s food needs,” he said.

Sinag is appealing to the consuming public to patronize local garlic and other local agricultural products as the only way to support, promote, and stimulate domestic agriculture.