SEN. Cynthia Villar yesterday said an allocation of P4 billion has been earmarked by a Senate finance sub-committee for the Department of Agriculture (DA) to establish “first border facilities” where all imported agricultural products will be screened before they enter the country.
In an interview with dzBB, Villar said these first border facilities will be put up in Subic, where imported agricultural products for Central Luzon and Northern Luzon will pass; in Batangas, for Southern Luzon and the Bicol region; in Cebu, for the whole of the Visayas region; and in Davao City, for the entire Mindanao region.
She said these border facilities will be established “to inspect imported agricultural products” to stop smuggling.
“This is the first time na magkakaroon ng first border facilities. Dati wala eh, second border tayo, pero ito pagpasok pa lang mayroon na tayong facility to inspect lahat ng sinasabing agricultural import na ito. Hindi na sila dadaan sa Manila port. Mamimili lang sila sa Subic, Batangas, Cebu, and Davao (This is the first time that we will have first border facilities. We have no facilities like these. Before, we only have second border inspections. But this time, we will have the facility to inspect all agricultural imports. They do not need to pass through the Manila port as they will choose from Subic, Batangas, Cebu, and Davao),” Villar said.
She added: “The first border facilities dapat doon lang dadaan. So doon kayo mag fo-focus — Batangas Subic, Cebu, and Davao. Matagal na silang binibigyan, hindi nagagawa, marami silang reason but this year I hope they will be able to do it (All imported agricultural products will exclusively pass the first border facilities. So, that is where they will focus — Batangas, Subic, Cebu, and Davao. We have been giving them the chance, but they have so many reasons not to do it. But this year, I hope they will be able to do it).”
Villar stressed that the smuggling of agricultural products, which kills the local agricultural industry, has been the biggest perennial problem besetting the government.
During the 18th Congress, then Senate President Vicente Sotto III convened the Senate committee of the whole to investigate the unabated smuggling of agricultural products and identified individuals allegedly engaged in such illegal activities.
Despite that, the smuggling of agricultural products has continued, which has prompted Sen. Imee Marcos to call on his brother, President Marcos, to get tough on agricultural smuggling. The President is the concurrent DA secretary.
Villar said the P4 billion allotted to the DA does not include intelligence funds since the budget is only for the establishment of first border facilities which she said will also stop the entry of contaminated agricultural products.
“Yung P4 billion para sa facility. Wala kasi tayong ganoon na facility. In fact, wala tayo nun kaya nakapasok ang ASF (African Swine Fever) at saka bird flu. So ngayon, pinuwersa ko sila. They have to establish that this term or this year para matapos na yung palaging kalokohan diyan (The P4 billion is only for the facilities because we do not have them. In fact, that is also the reason why the African Swine Fever and bird flu were able to enter the country. So, I compelled them, they have to establish that this term or this year so that the problems on smuggling can be stopped),” she said.
Villar said the same Senate finance sub-committee has also allotted P400 million for the office of DA assistant secretary James Layug for the operation of department’s anti-smuggling group.
