Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr. recently welcomed the signing into law of the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act, a measure that imposes stiffer penalties against smugglers and hoarders of agricultural food products including cartels.
"This new law that penalizes violators with higher fines and long jail terms, should instill fear in the minds of smugglers and hoarders, and force them to mend their ways," Tiu Laurel said. "This would also benefit our farmers and fisherfolk whose livelihoods are imperiled by unscrupulous hoarders and smugglers," he added.
Signed into law by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday, the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act (AGES) treats smuggling and hoarding of agricultural food products as economic sabotage when the value of goods exceeds P10 million. Creating cartels and financing smugglers and hoarders will also be considered economic sabotage.
Aside from a fine that is five times the value of smuggled or hoarded agricultural or fishery products, violators face life imprisonment if proven guilty.
Agricultural products covered by AGES are rice, corn, beef, and other ruminants, pork, poultry, garlic, onions, carrots, other vegetables, fruit, fish, salt, and other aquatic products in their raw state.
"AGES also grants rewards of up to P20 million and other incentives to those who will provide information that would lead to the investigation, arrest, prosecution, and conviction of smugglers and hoarders. This should lead to the radical reduction of their ranks," the agri chief said.
The law also requires the establishment and maintenance of a Daily Price Index, which will be handled by the DA's Bureau of Agricultural Research and Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service.