Workers unload bags of red onions inside a storage area in Divisoria market in Manila on Aug. 18, 2022. A group of onion farmers recently called on the government to delay importing white onions to address a shortage, saying there was still enough supply of red onions to meet demand. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News/file 

MANILA -- The Department of Finance on Friday said it is ready to implement a law that classifies smuggling, hoarding, and cartel operations involving agricultural products as economic sabotage. 

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday signed Republic Act No. 12022 or the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act, which says that the smuggling and hoarding of agricultural food products may be considered economic sabotage when the value of goods exceeds P10 million. 

Marcos Jr. signs new law classifying agri smuggling as economic sabotage

Creating cartels and financing smugglers and hoarders will also be considered economic sabotage. 

Agricultural products covered by the new law are rice, corn, beef and other ruminants, pork, poultry, garlic, onions, carrots, garlic, other vegetables, fruit, fish, salt and other aquatic products in their raw state. 

Violators face life imprisonment on top of hefty fines worth five times the value of the smuggled or hoarded agricultural or fishery products. 

"The new law gives more teeth to the government to relentlessly run after smugglers whose illegal activities undermine our farmers, fisherfolk, and consumers," Finance Secretary Ralph Recto said.

"Through a stronger and stricter crack down on these offenders, we protect our people's access to affordable goods and boost our revenue collections, which will allow the government to provide more essential public services to Filipinos," he added in a statement. 

Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio meanwhile said the agency will ensure that the provisions of the law will be fully implemented to stabilize agricultural prices and protect local industries.

"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," he said.

Alyansa Agrikultura chairman Ernesto Ordonez said the law can be improved by creating a smaller committee within the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Council to handle the nitty-gritty details of monitoring imports.

Currently, the law states that the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Council shall be composed of the Secretaries of Agriculture, Finance, Transportation, Trade and Industry, and Interior and Local Government, and Justice, among others.

"The council’s 15 people, it needs a small group that really acts," he said.

"What they must do is have this group to meet the Bureau of Customs every month…and meeting every month, they are forced to actually report to the president what happens," he told ANC's Market Edge.