The Marcos administration is ramping up its crackdown on agricultural economic sabotage, targeting large-scale smugglers, hoarders, profiteers and cartel operators who disrupt supply chains, threaten farmers’ livelihoods and undermine food security.
The Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage (AAES) council held its first meeting at Malacañang on March 5, 2025 to enforce Republic Act 12022, which was enacted in October 2024.
The law imposes harsher penalties on those engaged in agricultural smuggling, hoarding, and profiteering.
The meeting, chaired by Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs Frederick Go, formalized the creation of enforcement teams tasked with implementing the new law.
“With the law and enforcement mechanisms in place, we are ready to aggressively pursue economic saboteurs, especially in agriculture and fisheries. This will safeguard our farmers, fisherfolk, and consumers,” Go said.
The discussed launching a daily price index (DPI) to track agricultural prices, with the DA’s Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service managing it.
The DOF and DTI will oversee the full rollout of the National Single Window for cargo clearance to curb illicit imports.
An executive committee was also established, with the authority to issue letters of authority for enforcement actions when warranted.
The council will meet quarterly, with special sessions as needed to maintain pressure on economic saboteurs and protect the nation’s food supply.