The United Broiler Raisers Association on Saturday advised new agriculture chief Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. to implement measures other than tariff reductions to make the country's agriculture sector globally competitive.

"So far, the focus of the government has been to lower or eliminate tariffs on the twisted notion that the agricultural sector has been protected," UBRA president Bong Inciong told the Daily Tribune in a Viber message.

Clear effective goals, policies

Inciong said the Department of Agriculture, along with the national government and local government units or LGUs, must have clear and effective goals and policies for maximizing the country's agricultural resources.

He said these must comply with the Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act of 1997 which requires government agencies to provide agricultural workers knowledge and skills on business management, sustainable farming technologies, and marketing of profitable agricultural goods.

Ensure multiple ownerships

of agribusinesses

The law also requires the government to ensure multiple ownerships of agribusinesses for fair business competition.

"True protection comes with having a plan that will provide domestic support, trade remedies, and quarantine procedures and facilities. Absent the implementation of these laws and systems, poor farmers will remain impoverished," Inciong said.

Economic managers had said the government will be studying tariff reductions on rice and other products to increase imports to prevent food shortage and stabilize prices amid export restrictions from other countries.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas recently said it also supports the proposal to extend the validity of Executive Order 10 which reduces tariff rates of sensitive agricultural products, including rice, pork and corn. It will expire on 31 December.

This statement came after prices of goods and services increased to 6.1 percent inflation rate in September from 5.3 percent in August due to higher food prices.

Hasten Avian flu vaccine distribution

To ensure enough supply of affordable local poultry products, Inciong said the government must hasten the distribution of Avian Influenza vaccines to farmers. "The bureaucratic delays have caused so much damage," he stressed.

Inciong also said LGUs must create better communication tools and methods to curb the spread of animal diseases.