DA gets P2 billion vs smuggling, disease entry

MANILA, Philippines — At least P2 billion has been allocated by the Senate to the Department of Agriculture (DA) next year to combat the smuggling of vegetables, fish, poultry and meat and prevent the entry of diseases, Sen. Cynthia Villar said yesterday.

Villar, who chairs the committee on agriculture and food, said part of the allocation is a P400-million fund for a new DA office on regulation and enforcement, although the details of how the amount will be spent are still being finalized with the agency and the Senate, which is deliberating on the proposed P5.268-trillion national budget for 2023.

“I told them (DA officials) if they’re really serious against smuggling, you can do something about it,” Villar told dzBB in Filipino, referring to the Senate’s three-day deliberation on the DA’s proposed P163-billion budget. “We’ll see next year if they’ve done something.”

Villar also said that she moved, during the budget hearing, to transfer some P100 million from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) to the P1.5 billion for the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) to put up an initial four first border inspection facilities to screen the entry of vegetables, fruits, rice, fish, meat and poultry.

Once operational, the cold examination facility in agriculture or CEFA will have personnel and laboratories from the BAI, BFAR, Bureau of Plant Industry, National Meat Inspection Service, and representatives from the Bureau of Customs.

Agricultural imports are currently difficult to inspect as opening containers must be done in cold areas to prevent them from rotting. The difficulties make it easier for smugglers to bring in agricultural produce.

“I hope you can do it (CEFAs) this time because we gave you the budget for that last year but you failed to put them up, same with the previous year,” Villar told DA officials.

Upon questioning from Sen. Raffy Tulfo, DA Assistant Secretary James Layug, who heads the new enforcement office at the agency, said President Marcos directly issued instructions to them to “be serious” in implementing the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act.

Tulfo asked the DA to conduct random inspection of container vans with suspected smuggled vegetables to prove that the agency is serious in curbing smuggling activities nationwide.

The senator mentioned a certain Michael Yang, Andrew Chang, Leah Cruz and Manuel Tan as alleged vegetable smugglers, who he said are “very well-known” to DA and BOC officials.

Tulfo warned the smuggling of agricultural produce is expected to intensify in the coming weeks.