The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Friday inspected more than a dozen container vans of frozen fish at the Port of Manila, which President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has identified for potential donation to communities affected by recent tropical cyclones and other natural disasters.
The fish cargoes have already been tested and found to be safe for human consumption.
“President Marcos wants these smuggled fish turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development so they end up on the plates of suffering Filipinos who need them the most,” said Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel.
According to records from the DA-Inspectorate and Enforcement (DA-IE), 19 container vans of frozen fish are currently being held at the Port of Manila, while an additional five were seized at the Port of Subic. The DA-IE is led by Undersecretary Carlos Carag.
Each container holds approximately 30 metric tons of frozen fish, bringing the total seizure to about 720 metric tons, or 720,000 kilograms. This would be enough to distribute at least one kilogram of fish to more than 700,000 families.
The DA-IE has also flagged several other suspicious shipments and has requested that the Bureau of Customs hold their release pending inspection by relevant DA agencies, including the Bureau of Plant Industry, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, and the Bureau of Animal Industry.
The President has directed regulatory agencies, particularly the DA, to intensify their crackdown on agricultural smuggling to protect local producers and public health, and to ensure that lawful taxes and duties are collected.
