The Department of Agriculture Inspectorate and Enforcement (DA IE) visited various ports to put in place measures to improve border control and cut down on agri-fishery smuggling.

The initiative, geared towards the joint revalidation of condemnation plans, is a collaborative effort with the bureau of Customs.

On May 29, 2023, the DAIE visited at Port of Subic (POS) together with the district collector, Carmelita M. Talusan. During the discussion, the department identified areas of collaboration including profiling consignees, second border inspection, and information sharing. Border protection plays a major role in mitigating agricultural smuggling.

On June 1, 2023, the DAIE and Port of Batangas District Collector Atty. Rhea Gregorio convened to coordinate efforts to improve the cooperation between the DA and BOC through data sharing and streamlining of procedures for issuing alert orders, obtaining warrants, and detention seizures.

On the same day, another meeting was conducted with District Port Collector Romeo Rosales and Chief of Auction and Cargo Division Zsae Carrie C. De Guzman, resulting to the discussion of plans to deter unscrupulous trading of smuggled agri-fishery products during condemnation at Manila International Container Port (MICP).

DA Assistant Secretary James Layug has always emphasized that “Food Security is National Security” as the agriculture sector is one of the country’s major contributors to the country’s GDP.

“One way to ensure food security is the prevention of agricultural smuggling which will be significantly aided by border protection control thru the ports,” he stressed.

The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Inspectorate and Enforcement is mandated to lead the curbing of agricultural smuggling to protect the agriculture sector from economic sabotage and to improve the livelihood and well-being of our farmers and fisherfolk.### (DA-IE)