Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. welcomed the signing of the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act (AGES), a landmark measure that imposes stricter penalties on smugglers, hoarders and cartels involved in agricultural food products.
“This new law, with its higher fines and potential life imprisonment, should act as a strong deterrent to those engaged in illegal activities that harm our farmers and fisherfolk,” said Tiu Laurel at the sidelines of the 2024 Sustainable Agriculture Forum organized by the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP).
AGES, signed into law by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Sept. 25, 2024, classifies smuggling and hoarding of agricultural food products exceeding P10 million in value as economic sabotage.
Creating cartels and financing such activities will also be considered economic sabotage.
Violators face life imprisonment and fines five times the value of the smuggled or hoarded goods, particularly essential products such as rice, corn, meat, poultry, vegetables, fruits, fish, and salt.
“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,” Tiu Laurel said.
The law also mandates the establishment of a Daily Price Index, to be managed by the DA’s Bureau of Agricultural Research and Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service.
