Department of Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr. and Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio on Monday led the inspection of smuggled agricultural goods in Navotas and Manila, underscoring government’s aggressive efforts to curb unfair trade practices that undermine the livelihood of Filipino farmers and threaten domestic food safety and security.
Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco and Mayor John Rey Tiangco joined Sec. Tiu Laurel and BOC chief Rubio in inspecting a warehouse that contained over 300 tons of white onions, carrots, tomatoes, and mushrooms. The Bureau of Plant Industry has yet to issue Sanitary and Phytosanitary Import Clearances (SPSICs) for onions and tomatoes.
A composite team from the DA-Inspectorate and Enforcement Office, Bureau of Plant Industry National Plant Quarantine Services Division, BOC and other law enforcement units raided Thursday night a storage facility in Navotas that yielded smuggled vegetables as well as pasta and pickled salad.
“We want to assure our farmers that we will protect their livelihood from smuggling and other unfair trade practices. Actions like these are also meant to ensure food safety and promote food security in the country,” said Sec. Tiu Laurel.
“The coordinated effort of the DA, BOC, and local government units in this successful raid in Navotas highlights how a whole-of-government approach is crucial in stamping out smuggling and other illegal trade activities,” he added.
The smuggled vegetables are worth at least P30 million, the DA chief said.
The Bureau of Plant Industry has taken samples of the smuggled vegetables for food safety testing. “These samples will be tested for the presence of harmful microorganisms and pesticide residues. These have no sanitary and phytosanitary permits so we want to make sure these vegetables will pose no risk to the public,” said BPI Director Glen Panganiban.
Smuggling not only deprives government of crucial import duties but also hampers the growth of local industries and their ability to create jobs, which is vital for alleviating poverty.
In recent months, DA-IE, DA Bureaus, and customs teams have intensified their anti-smuggling efforts, successfully intercepting illicit imports of rice and frozen food products worth hundreds of millions of pesos. ###
