03/12/2012 (GMA News) - Concerned that the Philippine market is being flooded with imported palm oil products from Indonesia and Malaysia, the Philippine Palmoil Development Council Inc. (PPDCI) will petition the government to impose a safeguard duty on all palm oil imports to protect the local industry.

The PPDCI is composed of Kenram Philippines, Filipinas Palmoil, Agumil Philippines, Aberdi, and some 5,000 growers, the majority of whom are based in Mindanao.

According to the group, Republic Act No. 8800 allows the Department of Trade and Industry to impose an appropriate safeguard duty on imported palm oil products to protect the local industry from a surge in imports.

Safeguards, which include increased duties or quantitative restrictions, are temporary and are meant to allow domestic growers time to become more competitive against foreign producers.

Palm oil products smuggled into the country and sold for lower prices are aggravating the surge, said PPDCI president Erwin Garcia.

Garcia added that the PPDCI has expressed its concerns to Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile.“We will never get tired of calling the attention of the government until smuggling is stopped and the smugglers penalized,” he said.

The petition, said Gardia, will stress that “the government should continue to assure investors that it will create a level playing field for all.”