The Department of Agriculture (DA) reported that seizures of smuggled agricultural and fishery products have reached ₱3.78 billion in the past 17 months, with 20 importers already blacklisted under Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr.
In a report to the Senate Agriculture Committee, the DA said its inspectorate and enforcement office carried out 182 operations from January 2024 to July 2025, including the case of a detained onion importer facing multiple charges.
Tiu Laurel noted that while the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act increased penalties for smugglers, it also raised the threshold for qualifying cases, making prosecution more difficult.
He lamented that the law does not grant the DA direct enforcement powers, forcing reliance on other agencies.
The DA is calling for stronger coordination with the Bureau of Customs and the FDA, as well as the creation of a permanent secretariat to better protect farmers and fisherfolk.
Source: PhilNews24 | September 2, 2025
