Gov't takes tougher stance vs. agriculture smuggling

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) on Wednesday warned unscrupulous traders, particularly rice smugglers, to stop their illegal activities or face the full force of the law.

"We are warning you, kayong mga dealers, do not try that now, because you will not succeed," Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon said during a press conference on Wednesday.

Higher penalties have been prescribed against smugglers under Republic Act 10845, or the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act, especially those engaged large-scale shipments of rice and other agriculture products.

The government's main concern is about shielding local farmers and agriculture enterprises from illegal importers.

"Rice smuggling results in economic sabotage because it distorts the local price of rice, it bloats the domestic supply, hence putting our citizens and farmers in an extremely disadvantageous situation," said Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco Jr., who coordinated with the BOC and the National Food Authority in enforcing the law.

Illegal importations with a fair market value of P1 million, or P10 million in the case of rice, are also considered large-scale smuggling.

The culprits may be sentenced to life imprisonment and a fine of twice the fair value of the smuggled product, including taxes duties and other charges.

Zero smuggling

Evasco said the BOC, the NFA and his office held an emergency meeting last week to come up with mechanisms to ensure zero smuggling in the country.

"There is a need to do this since we will have unscrupulous traders who have already mastered circumventing the law and would do misdeclaration, miscalculation and over-landing of rice – acts which are extremely detrimental to our impoverished citizens and rice farmers," Evasco noted.

One of the measures is the no permit, no import policy, the Cabinet official said. In the past, imported goods were allowed to enter the country "... even if the permits are still in process."

Also, only up to 2 percent of the rice shipment volume is allowed as over-landing.

The government is now reviewing the importation guidelines with a view to banning imported goods from entering the country via free ports. — VS, GMA News