ILOILO City – President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. urged the public to collaborate with the government in guarding against rice smugglers and hoarders.
On Friday, Oct. 6, the President visited the provinces of Aklan, Antique and Capiz where he distributed over 3,000 bags of rice, each valued at P1,050, to beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).
The bags of rice were government-seized smuggled rice.
The President also oversaw the distribution of other government aid, including:
* Department of Labor and Employment’s Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Worker (P6 million)
* Department of Health’s Medical Assistance for Indigent Patients (P1.5 million)
* Technical Education and Skills Development Authority’s allowance for scholars (P1.19 million)
* Department of Agriculture’s KADIWA (P1.1 million)
* Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation’s insurance (P12.8 million)
* Commission on Higher Education scholarships (P5.66 million)
Marcos emphasized that syndicates, regardless of their size, would not withstand the combined efforts of the government and the public.
In September, the Bureau of Customs seized P42-million worth of smuggled rice.
“Kaya kung may nalalaman po kayong sangkot sa ganitong transaction, huwag po kayong matakot na magsuplong,” Marcos told Capiznons.
Around 42,180 sacks of rice were confiscated following an inspection of a warehouse in Barangay San Jose Gusu, Zamboanga City on Sept. 15.
Marcos highlighted the negative impact of smugglers and hoarders on market stability and prices. He urged Congress to criminalize agricultural economic sabotage.
“Makilahok sa pagbabantay sa ating lipunan. Marami pa rin ang nakapanloloko ng kapwa tulad ng nakakagalit na smugglers at hoarders na ‘yan. Nasisira ang daloy ng merkado, kaya’t tumataas ang pangunahing bilihin dahil sa kanilang illegal na gawain,” he said.
Last week, Marcos certified the bill redefining and imposing stiffer penalties against crimes of agricultural economic sabotage as urgent.
In a statement, Communications secretary Cheloy Garafil confirmed that the President certified as urgent the approval of Senate Bill (SB) 2432, a measure that defines the crimes of agricultural economic sabotage.
In a letter addressed to Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, Marcos stressed the need for the immediate enactment of SB 2432 “to promote the productivity of the agriculture sector, protect farmers and fisherfolk from unscrupulous traders and importers, and ensure reasonable and affordable prices of agricultural and fishery products for consumers.”
This, as Marcos lamented that the country is now beset by rising prices and shortages of agricultural products, “partly due to the nefarious acts of smuggling, hoarding, profiteering, and cartel.”
The bill is now pending in the period of interpellations in the Senate, while a Technical Working Group is currently finalizing the version for the House of Representatives.
Garafil said the bill, which would repeal Republic Act (RA) 10845, or the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act of 2016, aims to impose severe sanctions on the nefarious acts of smuggling, hoarding, profiteering, and cartel of agricultural and fishery products.
She said the sanctions include a penalty of life imprisonment and a fine thrice the value of the agricultural and fishery products subject to the crime as economic sabotage.
Under the bill, the acts of agricultural smuggling, hoarding, profiteering, and cartel as economic sabotage are committed when the value of each agricultural and fishery product subject to the crime is at least P1 million, using the Daily Price Index, under Section 19 of the proposed law, computed at the time the crime was committed.
Bill Worries Rice Traders
In a statement, the Iloilo Grains Businessmen Association (IGBA), through its newly-elected president, Ildefonso Dolorfino, expressed worry about SB 2432.
IGBA comprises rice grain traders, millers, retailers, and importers in the city and province of Iloilo.
Dolorfino said the proposed bill is unfavorable and will create difficulties for rice traders. Once their capital or the value of the rice they bought reaches P1 million, it will be considered economic sabotage.
“Instead nga ma-negosyo ikaw, indi kaw maka-negosyo sang maayo kay tungod mag-over P1 million, ma-hoarding ikaw. Amo na nga daw nag-panic ang traders and retailers,” said Dolorfino.
The IGBA believes the national government should consider otherwise since many traders supply multiple retailers and buyers.
“Ang isa mo ka truck nga bugas worth P1 million na daan, 500 bags is worth P1 million. Ti, kon hingabuton kami, mabakal pa ikaw bugas nga sobra sa P1 million kay mahulog ka sa violation sa hoarding?” Dolorfino said.
He added: “Kon control-on kami, ang amon nga transaction waay na sang sunod kay ti mahulog ka sa hoarding. Ano mahimu sang negosyo kundi ma-lay low. Madula ang gana namon sa tawag nga business kay gina-control sang gobyerno ang aton negosyo.”
Because of this, rice traders in Iloilo appealed to the national government to loosen its hand on the rice market. They also mull creating a position paper to be submitted to the national government. (With a report from the Philippine News Agency)/PN
