President Marcos enacted Republic Act No. 12022 or the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act to give the government more teeth in combatting the smuggling, profiteering, and hoarding of agricultural products, which have contributed significantly to recent inflation surges.
”The passage of the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act will set in motion transformative outcomes. It is a proactive measure to prevent the entry of smuggled agricultural products, ensuring that the correct duties and taxes are paid while imposing higher penalties on violators,” the President said upon signing the bill into law in Malacañang Palace on Thursday.
The new law states that after an emergency or state of calamity has been declared, businessmen caught hoarding agricultural products over 30 percent of their enterprises’ normal inventory will be liable for economic sabotage.
Such an offense can carry a penalty of up to life imprisonment and a fine of up to five times the value of the products involved in the crime.
”We will confront and dismantle the powerful forces that have long exploited our system for their own gain, ensuring that justice prevails, and the dignity of our agricultural sector is upheld,” Mr. Marcos added.
The law also provides for the establishment of a Daily Price Index that will inform traders, retailers and the public alike about the prevailing prices of agricultural products in all regions.
”This law shapes a stronger, more resilient agricultural sector that defends both our farmers and our consumers,” said the chief executive.
As this developed, House Speaker Martin Romualdez led an on-site inspection at the Manila International Container Port (MICP) following reports that over 800 containers containing approximately 23 million kilos of imported rice have been overstaying at the port.
He said the inspection is part of the House of Representatives’ sustained efforts to combat hoarding and smuggling, ensuring Filipino consumers have access to affordable rice, in line with the incumbent administration’s broader strategy to stabilize rice prices amid supply gaps.
“We are here to send a clear message: rice hoarding, smuggling, and other illegal activities that threaten the accessibility and affordability of our staple grain will not be tolerated,” Romualdez said.
He pointed out that persistent reports on overstaying rice containers add to growing concerns over the manipulation of rice supply in the market, which has contributed to rising prices, undermining the government’s objective of ensuring food security, especially for vulnerable sectors.
The Speaker appealed to importers to refrain from taking advantage of the full 30-day period before withdrawing their rice shipment saying it is tantamount to hoarding and would adversely affect ordinary consumers as it would artificially drive prices up.
Romualdez stressed that the President’s Executive Order 62, which mandates a reduction in tariffs on imported rice to bring down the price, would be rendered futile if imported rice is hoarded or not released on time for public consumption.
He called on all relevant authorities to expedite the release of the rice containers and ensure that any individual or group involved in the illegal withholding of rice is held accountable.
The Lower Chamber’s head was accompanied by Deputy Majority Leader Erwin Tulfo, ACT-CIS Partylist Rep. Edvic Yap and Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio during the inspection on Wednesday.
