MANILA – The Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act will swiftly and decisively penalize the smugglers and profiteers, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said.
In a speech at the Malacañang Palace, Marcos said the newly-signed measure aims to combat agricultural smuggling, profiteering, and hoarding, making food more affordable and accessible.
“We will confront and dismantle the powerful forces that have long exploited our system for their own gain, ensuring that justice prevails and the dignity of our agricultural sector is upheld,” Marcos said.
“No more backdoors, no more shortcuts, and certainly, no more turning a blind eye in the Bagong Pilipinas,” the Chief Executive added.
The Philippines lost over P3 billion to agricultural smuggling in 2023 alone and, in less than nine months this year, over P230 million worth of smuggled agricultural products were seized, government data showed.
Under the new law, smuggling, hoarding, profiteering, cartel and financing of these crimes involving agricultural and fishery products are classified as acts of economic sabotage and will carry a penalty of life imprisonment and a fine of up to five times the value of the products involved in the crime.
The measure also aims to help make food more accessible and affordable for Filipinos while enhancing income opportunities for local farmers and fisherfolk.
The Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act, a priority measure of the Marcos administration, repeals Republic Act No. 10845 or the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act of 2016, replacing it with more comprehensive mechanisms to ensure stricter enforcement and better implementation./PN
