THE United Broilers and Raisers Association (UBRA) has opposed the reappointment of Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary William Dar who has promoted a regime of importation and the “vested interests” of importers “at the expense” of farmers.

In an open letter to President-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr., UBRA said the Philippines and its farmers became sacrificial lambs on Dar’s import policy that failed to lower food prices.

Such misguided neo-liberalist position neglected to harness Philippines’ resources to achieve “food sovereignty.”

“He (Dar) has been completely subservient to the misguided emphasis on import liberalization. The reality is that whether accidentally or intentionally, it has conveniently benefited mainly the vested interests of importers at the expense of the majority of our people,” UBRA said, led by its president, lawyer Jose Elias Inciong.

UBRA cited that during Dar’s term (2020), the Commission on Audit (CoA) found P9.454 billion in disallowances, audit suspensions and charges, P17.542 billion in unliquidated fund transfers to implementing agencies and nongovernment organizations, P20.21 billion unliquidated fund transfers in prior years, and P9.806 billion returned to national treasury.

Dar will be worsening the Philippines’ vulnerability to climate change, consequently, food security.

This as irrigation source for rice farming has been adversely limited by conflict posed by China and droughts in countries where Philippines sources its food imports.

It will be the Marcos’ administration’s biggest fault to reappoint Dar.

“He has been openly and aggressively campaigning to be retained as secretary of Agriculture. Please do not succumb to his shameless self-promotion and propaganda. As aptly stated by Senate President Tito Sotto in a committee hearing on smuggling, that would be the ‘biggest mistake’ of the next administration.”