The signing of RA 12022, or the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act, into a law by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., on September 26, was lauded by the workers and consumers groups in Negros Island Region.
Wennie Sancho, Ad Hoc chairman of the Alliance of Concerned Consumers in Electricity and Social Services (ACCESS) said that this law is a milestone legislation that would save the sugar industry and would greatly benefit the workers and the consumers amidst the unabated increases in the prices of basic goods and services.
“This new law will effectively address the issue of agricultural smuggling, hoarding, profiteering and cartel operations in our rice and sugar industry, resulting in artificial supply shortage that leads to the increase in the prices of these commodities. This law should consider the proliferation of artificial sweeteners like the HFCS as a form of economic sabotage. This law will make our fight against rice and sugar smuggling more effective,” he said.
Wennie Sancho, a labor leader, said that the signing of RA 12022 by PBBM will be an instrument for the emancipation of the marginal farmers and ARB’s in the rice and the sugar industry.
On the other hand, the press release from the group said that the newly formed Alliance of Concerned Consumers in Electricity and Social Services(ACCESS), declared that RA 12022 is a “significant victory for all consumers” as the law shall impose severe sanctions against smugglers and cartels of agricultural products to deter abusive market practices which threatened the well-being of agricultural producers and the welfare of the consumers.
Sancho, believes that RA 12022 is a “big win” for the Filipino consumers as it will prevent price manipulations to ensure fair market practices and to keep food prices at a reasonable level.
According to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) a typical Filipino household spends around 41.5 percent of its monthly income on food. When the price of food goes up, they put a significant strain on ordinary consumers. This law will benefit the Filipino household by allowing them to set aside more of their income for other essentials, like education, health care and utilities.*
