‘We are confident that with a more efficient agriculture department, we will witness tangible improvements in the agricultural sector, including the attainment of a food secure nation.’
FOR the longest time, the economy has been saddled with the proliferation of smuggling. Among the favorite commodities being smuggled are cigarettes and agricultural products such as rice, sugar, garlic, onion and other vegetables.
It is a fact that the government loses millions of pesos in revenues because of this nefarious activity. More than this, our farmers and fisherfolk, along with traders, distributors, and logistic workers all suffer when big volumes of smuggled goods invade the market. Ordinary consumers and residents are also at a disadvantage since government regulations as to safety and reliability of these commodities are absent.
The situation has become so dire that any news about the apprehension of smugglers and seizure of their contraband is a cause for celebration.
The Bureau of Customs (BOC) and the Department of Agriculture (DA), working together and in step with other law enforcement agencies of the government, recently announced an attempt to smuggle into the country some 30 containers of onions. The timely action of both the BOC and the DA resulted in the arrest and prosecution of the suspects.
The seizure of the contraband showed the commitment of the Marcos administration to go after these big-time agricultural smugglers. Bringing in these goods to the country illegally is a significant threat to the economy, to the livelihoods of small farmers, and to the competitiveness of legitimate businesses, said Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel.
Customs officials, meanwhile, said the arrest was a result of coordination among key government agencies, as well as the prompt actions of the bureau. They expressed hope that this operation will serve as a strong deterrent for other smugglers not to even attempt circumventing our laws and making a mockery of them.
In smuggling cases, it is well to note that the agriculture department and the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) are engaged in a partnership to get to the root of the problem, through the conduct of a complete and thorough investigation.
Secretary Laurel also acknowledged the help from the judiciary, since the big-time onion smugglers were arrested by virtue of an arrest warrant issued by a court in Manila. Among the cases presented were large-scale agricultural smuggling and economic sabotage.
Relevant gains in the fight against large-scale agricultural smuggling can be achieved through effective coordination among the police, courts, and local governments.
We note the efforts of the Department of Agriculture headed by Secretary Tiu Laurel to push the growth of the agriculture sector of the economy.
Aside from thwarting smuggling, the DA has constructed rice processing centers and purchased the necessary machinery to modernize farming. Notable also is the construction of water impounding projects for irrigation, especially in Central Luzon which has become the rice granary of the country.
The DA secretary is also fostering a more cohesive and coordinated workforce in the department, the better to deliver the best service to our farmers and fisherfolk. These organizational and operational reforms initiated by Secretary Tiu Laurel in the DA underscore the government’s commitment to safeguarding the interests of Filipino farmers and consumers
We are confident that with a more efficient agriculture department, we will witness tangible improvements in the agricultural sector, including the attainment of a food-secure nation.
