Davao City – The vast autonomous powers of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Government could help Mindanao farmers skirt restrictive national policies like the ban on the export of matured coconuts to the U.S., China and the Middle East.
On Monday, following my assumption as Chairman of the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), I consulted legal experts on the extent of the autonomy of the Bangasamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao to enhance the economic growth of the region.
Specifically, I asked whether the BARMM Parliament could pass legislations which would support trade and commerce and enhance agricultural benefits for the Bangsamoro farmers like allowing the export of dehisced matured coconuts.
A 44-year-old decree issued by the late President Ferdinand Marcos bans the export of matured coconuts mainly based on fears that the genetic materials from Philippine coconuts would be used by other countries to improve their coconut industry and compete with ours.
Shortly after the transfer of the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) to the Department of Agriculture in September 2018, the PCA Board recommended the lifting of the ban for the following reasons:
1. The restrictive measure is already outdated because of modern genetic technology allowing access to genetic materials if anybody wants to;
2. The direct export of de-husked matured coconuts would greatly help the coconut farmers who are now suffering from the very low prices of Copra in the world market.
As Agriculture Secretary then, I made several recommendations as early as November of 2018 for the lifting of the ban, including tariff imposition on imported palm Olein and increase in the CME content of the bio-diesel.
Failing to get positive action on these recommendations, I asked legal experts last week to study the extent of the Powers of the BARMM in relation to promoting the welfare of its agriculture stakeholders.
They cited this provision in the Bangsamoro Organic Law which created the BARMM:
“On the issue on whether or not the BARMM could come up with its own legislation allowing the export of agricultural products, the answer is YES, based on the foregoing
provisions:
a. ARTICLE IV ARTICLE IV SECTION 2. Self-Governance. — In the exercise of its right to self-governance, the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region is free to pursue its
political, economic, social, and cultural development as provided for in this Organic Law.
b. ARTICLE IV SECTION 2. Powers of the Bangsamoro Government. — Subject to Section 20, Article X of the Constitution and this Organic Law, the Bangsamoro
Government shall exercise its authority over the following matters without prejudice to the general supervision of the President of the Republic of the Philippines:
Xxxx
(c) Agriculture, livestock, and food security;
(d) Ancestral domain and natural resources
(e) Barter Trade and Countertrade…”
As President Rody Duterte’s Point Person for the BARMM, I will meet with Chief Minister Ahod “Murad” Ebrahim very soon to present the idea of helping the coconut farmers of the Bangsamoro Region by asking the Parliament to enact a measure which would specifically allow the export of Mature and Green Coconuts.
Importers from the U.S., the Middle East and China have long been waiting for this offering a good price and the measure will certainly alleviate the hardships of Coconut farmers in Mindanao.
(Photos were downloaded from public websites.)
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