DA asked to investigate ‘dumping’ of Turkish flour

 Economy
Jul 152013
 
DA asked to investigate ‘dumping’ of Turkish flour

MANILA, Philippines – Small flour millers are asking the Department of Agriculture (DA) to investigate the alleged dumping of Turkish flour into the country. The Philippine Association of Flour Millers (PAFMIL) yesterday said it filed a petition before the DA in May seeking a public hearing on the issue and to coordinate with the Tariff Commission to institute safeguards against the supposed dumping of Turkish flour. “We asked the DA to look into the matter and conduct a public hearing. Afterwards, it can coordinate with the Tariff Commission to put in place the necessary safeguards,” said PAFMIL executive director Ric Pinca. “We hope to get a favorable ruling because we believe we have a strong case.” PAFMIL alleged that Turkish flour exportation to the Philippines at dumping prices violates World Trade Organization (WTO) rules. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 Dumping occurs when a country exports a commodity at prices lower than its domestic prices. “When a country exports products at dumping prices, it is engaged in unfair trade. Thus, we are up against a group of flour exporters engaging in unfair trade,” said Pinca. PAFMIL noted that in 2010, average export price of Turkish flour was $276 per metric ton while their domestic price was $600 per MT. In 2011, export price was at an average of $388 per MT against Turkish domestic price of $600 per MT. Last year, it was $340 against their domestic price of $470 per MT. PAFMIL said Turkish flour exports Read More …

DA asks DTI to monitor lead content in rice

 Economy
May 282013
 
DA asks DTI to monitor lead content in rice

MANILA, Philippines – The Agriculture department is asking the Trade department to monitor rice being sold in Metro Manila, citing reports that the packages of these goods have been found to contain lead. Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Proceso Alcala said in a letter dated May 24 to Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Gregory Domingo, they would want the Trade department to monitor the packages of rice being sold in the market. This, as the DA received information from the EcoWaste Coalition of the presence of lead in rice sacks. The EcoWaste Coalition is a public interest network of community, church, school, environmental and health groups pursuing sustainable solutions to waste, climate change and chemical issues facing the Philippines and the world. “It is informed that out of 125 sacks, representing 100 brands of rice purchased between the periods of April 13 to 18, 2013 from various rice dealers in public and private markets in cities of Metro Manila, about 53 percent showed low or non-detectable levels of lead, while 47 percent were found to contain lead in the range of 124 parts per million (ppm) to 2,605 ppm,” Alcala said. Alcala noted that the lead content of the rice sacks exceeds the US limit of 90 ppm for lead in paint and surface coating. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 He said lead was detected in the outer portions of the sacks as well as in the inner sections, posing a concern for adulteration Read More …

DA to ensure rice, food supply in Tawi-Tawi, Sulu

 Entertainment
Mar 112013
 
DA to ensure rice, food supply in Tawi-Tawi, Sulu

(Department of Agriculture logo) The Department of Agriculture will provide an additional supply of rice and basic food items for Tawi-Tawi, Sulu, and Basilan to satisfy the increased demand due to the influx of returning Filipinos and refugees from Sabah. Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala has instructed concerned DA officials to ensure a steady supply of rice of other basic food items in the three provinces to prevent a shortage and undue increase in prices. He instructed Administrator Orlan Calayag of the DA’s National Food Authority to sustain the delivery of rice, in coordination with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and respective local governments units (LGUs). Sec. Alcala also instructed the DA regional directors in Mindanao to send additional supply of cassava, which also serves as a major staple, to Tawi-Tawi and Sulu. In a report to Sec. Alcala, Calayag said the NFA as of March 9, has delivered an initial 2,200 bags (50 kilos each) to Tawi-Tawi and Sulu (at 1,000 bags each), and 200 bags in Zamboanga City. The DSWD has allotted the rice for Filipino returnees from Sabah. The NFA is shipping 180 to 250 bags of rice, two to three times a week, to Suu, and the NFA regional office in Davao is ready to ship 50,000 bags to Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, Calayag said. Other NFAl regional offices, particularly in Metro Manila or NCR and Region 6 (Western Visayas), are also set to send additional rice stocks to Zamboanga for delivery to the Read More …

‘El Niño won’t harm palay output’

 Economy
Jan 272013
 
‘El Niño won’t harm palay output’

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Agriculture (DA) expects palay production to reach 7.90 million metric tons (MT) in the first six months of 2013, a flat growth rate from the 7.89 million MT recorded in the same period in 2012. DA said palay production in the first half of the year would likely be spared from the adverse effects of the El Niño phenomenon in the summer at irrigation facilities have already been put in place and the transfer of the bulk of palay cultivation in the early part of the year. In a report, DA’s Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS) said the total harvest area may increase by 0.1 percent to 2.038 million hectares in the January to June this year from 2.036 million hectares in 2012. Yield per hectare, however, may remain at 2012 level of 3.88 MT. Based on standing crop, palay production in the first quarter of the year is forecast to reach 4.27 million MT, up by 7.1 percent from the output of 3.99 million MT in 2012. Based on farmers’ planting intentions, April to June forecasts indicate reductions in production, harvest area and yield by 6.9 percent, 4.1 percent and three percent respectively. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 The expected drop in production during the second quarter was because most farmers opted to concentrate the bulk of palay production in the early part of the year. “This time, we are more prepared. As long as we have sufficient irrigation, Read More …

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