Anti-smuggling task force formed to guard harbors

An anti-smuggling task force has been formed to guard shipments of agricultural products at the North and South harbors in the wake of rampant smuggling.

President Arroyo had earlier approved the creation of the task force mainly from the private sector to step up anti-smuggling drive in metropolis.

The Agricultural Sector Alliance of the Philippines was designated to lead the task force. AGAP was deputized to assist operatives of the Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group, Bureau of Customs and Department of Agriculture.

AGAP head Nicanor Briones said the creation of the task force was aimed at ending technical smuggling of local agricultural produce in the country which has prejudice local agricultural producers.

Briones said the task force will help inspect reefer vans from the Manila port, where rampant smuggling of agricultural products reportedly occur.

He noted that one reason farmers have lost their eagerness to plant rice, vegetables and other food crops and raise poultry animals is because of rampant smuggling of agricultural products into the country which are sold in the market at very low price.

“Smuggling is the mother of all corruption because the government is losing P100 billion worth of taxes annually from it. It is also killing the livelihood of 13.8 million farmers in the country,” he said.

Briones also asked the government to increase the budget allocation for the DA next year to help farmers build irrigation, post-harvest, and slaughterhouse facilities and buy hybrid rice seeds.

He also appealed to Mrs. Arroyo to prioritize House Bill 3110 or the Tariff and Customs Enforcement Act of 2007 and House Bill 15 or the Anti-Smuggling Bill of 2007, proposed by Rep. Lorenzo Tanada, to end smuggling of agricultural products. – Nestor Etolle