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Advocates Philippines
House Speaker Commits To Combat Agricultural Smuggling
Photo credit: Congress PH
Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez announced on Thursday that the House of Representatives is set to expedite the passage of a crucial legislative measure aimed at combating smuggling of agricultural products, particularly onions.
The proposed amendments to the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act have been identified as one of the key priority bills of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to tighten the noose around smugglers and protect local farmers.
Speaker Romualdez expressed the House's commitment to swiftly work towards passing the proposed amendments. He emphasized that this legislation holds significant importance for both consumers and local farmers, aligning with President Marcos Jr.'s pursuit of fair business practices and the administration's goal of achieving food security.
Once enacted, the proposed amendments will not only institutionalize and enhance existing mechanisms but also impose more stringent penalties to act as a strong deterrent against the smuggling of agricultural products, including onions, which have been subject to price manipulation and supply disruptions by illicit cartels.
The call for action against agricultural smuggling was spurred by the findings of the House Committee on Agriculture and Food's investigation into hoarding, price fixing, and smuggling of onions. Marikina 2nd District Representative Stella Luz Quimbo, during a hearing in May, revealed the existence of a cartel operating through a network of companies that were responsible for manipulating onion prices and supply.
It was Speaker Romualdez himself who initiated the congressional investigation last year when onion prices reached a record high of about P700 per kilo in December. Since then, the issue has garnered significant attention and led to the involvement of key agencies such as the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) under the direction of President Marcos Jr.
The proposed amendments to the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act are among the 20 bills targeted for approval by Congress before the year's end. These bills were identified during the recent 2nd Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) full meeting, chaired by President Marcos Jr. in Malacañang on Wednesday. The LEDAC priority legislation encompasses a wide range of areas, including public-private partnerships, disease prevention management, e-commerce, national security, and governance reforms.
The House has already made significant progress in passing LEDAC priority measures, having approved 33 out of the original 42 bills during the First Regular Session of the 19th Congress. The remaining bills, including the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act amendments, are expected to be prioritized and acted upon in the coming session, underscoring the legislature's commitment to advancing the administration's agenda.
The proposed amendments to the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act have been identified as one of the key priority bills of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to tighten the noose around smugglers and protect local farmers.
Speaker Romualdez expressed the House's commitment to swiftly work towards passing the proposed amendments. He emphasized that this legislation holds significant importance for both consumers and local farmers, aligning with President Marcos Jr.'s pursuit of fair business practices and the administration's goal of achieving food security.
Once enacted, the proposed amendments will not only institutionalize and enhance existing mechanisms but also impose more stringent penalties to act as a strong deterrent against the smuggling of agricultural products, including onions, which have been subject to price manipulation and supply disruptions by illicit cartels.
The call for action against agricultural smuggling was spurred by the findings of the House Committee on Agriculture and Food's investigation into hoarding, price fixing, and smuggling of onions. Marikina 2nd District Representative Stella Luz Quimbo, during a hearing in May, revealed the existence of a cartel operating through a network of companies that were responsible for manipulating onion prices and supply.
It was Speaker Romualdez himself who initiated the congressional investigation last year when onion prices reached a record high of about P700 per kilo in December. Since then, the issue has garnered significant attention and led to the involvement of key agencies such as the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) under the direction of President Marcos Jr.
The proposed amendments to the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act are among the 20 bills targeted for approval by Congress before the year's end. These bills were identified during the recent 2nd Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) full meeting, chaired by President Marcos Jr. in Malacañang on Wednesday. The LEDAC priority legislation encompasses a wide range of areas, including public-private partnerships, disease prevention management, e-commerce, national security, and governance reforms.
The House has already made significant progress in passing LEDAC priority measures, having approved 33 out of the original 42 bills during the First Regular Session of the 19th Congress. The remaining bills, including the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act amendments, are expected to be prioritized and acted upon in the coming session, underscoring the legislature's commitment to advancing the administration's agenda.
Jul 7, 2023
