MANILA — Finance Secretary Ralph Recto announced that the Department of Finance (DOF) and the Bureau of Customs (BOC) are fully prepared to enforce the newly signed Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act, aimed at ending the rampant issues of agricultural smuggling, profiteering, and hoarding in the Philippines. Republic Act 12022, signed into law by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday, is set to bolster the country’s efforts to ensure food security and protect local farmers and consumers from economic exploitation.
According to the Philippines News Agency, Recto stated that the new legislation will significantly enhance the government’s capacity to combat illegal activities that have long undermined the agricultural sector. “The new law gives more teeth to the government to relentlessly run after smugglers whose illegal activities undermine our farmers, fisherfolk, and consumers,” he explained. The finance chief emphasized the law’s role in protecting access to affordable goods and boosting revenue collections, which are vital for funding public services.
The law expands the definition of economic sabotage to include a broader range of agricultural products, such as livestock, aquatic products, and tobacco, which were not previously covered under the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act of 2016. Offenders now face severe penalties, including life imprisonment and fines up to five times the value of the smuggled goods.
BOC Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio also voiced his support for the new law, noting that it provides the BOC with the necessary tools and clear guidelines to effectively tackle acts of economic sabotage. “This Act will not only help the BOC penalize those who violate the law but will also act as a clear deterrent to future offenders. We are committed to holding economic saboteurs fully accountable for their actions,” Rubio stated.
The BOC has already implemented strategies to enhance its anti-smuggling efforts, which include improved intelligence coordination, the integration of advanced technology for better border control, and stringent enforcement measures. From January 2023 to August 2024, the BOC conducted 1,803 successful operations against agricultural smuggling, with the seized goods valued at approximately PHP 3.70 billion.