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Workers transport fresh drops of vegetables in Divisoria market in Manila on January 20, 2022. Preliminary results of the Asian Development Bank’s COVID-19 Country Assessment report shows the Philippines lagging its neighbors in a return to pre-pandemic growth rates with long-term effects of the pandemic on employment being a key concern. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN New

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Companies, customs brokers allegedly tied to smuggled agri products to be called to Senate hearing

Victoria Tulad

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/175567148775420220120-covid-economy-manila-gc-1516.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Workers transport fresh drops of vegetables in Divisoria market in Manila on January 20, 2022. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN New "/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Workers transport fresh drops of vegetables in Divisoria market in Manila on January 20, 2022<em>. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN New </em></span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>MANILA — Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan directed the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food and Agrarian Reform to invite to its next hearing trading companies and customs brokers who are allegedly consignees of shipments suspected to contain smuggled agricultural products.</p><p>Pangilinan who chairs the committee, is looking into the high prices of food and other basic agricultural commodities, as well as smuggling.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/7/8/smuggled-agricultural-products-from-china-intercepted-in-subic-port-1536">Smuggled agricultural products from China intercepted in Subic Port</a></div><p>In his opening statement, Pangilinan said, “On May 19, the Monday after elections, pagkatapos ng halalan, sabi ni President Marcos inamin niya sa sarili niyang mga salita, ‘ang mga opisyal ng gobyerno ang nasa likod ng rice smuggling at nag-i-ismuggle, mga  opisyal din ng gobyerno. Kumikita sila.’”</p><p>Pangilinan asked why three months after such statement, no official was named nor held accountable.</p><p>“Sa dulo ng ating pagdinig, hindi lang natin malalaman kung paano pababain ang presyo ng pagkain. Malalaman din natin kung sino ang mga dapat managot sa likod ng patuloy na pagtaas ng presyo, sa mga protektor ng mga smuggler mismo, at mga importer at broker na kasabwat nito,” Pangilinan continued.</p><p>The next hearing is scheduled on August 27.</p><p>Pangilinan also supports the appeal of the Department of Agriculture (DA) for it to be given enforcement powers to address smuggling and other issues in the agriculture sector.</p><div><a href="http://abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/6/19/agri-dept-finds-smuggled-onions-during-manila-market-inspection-1025">Agri dept finds &#x27;smuggled&#x27; onions during Manila market inspection</a></div><p>“Bukas ako na doon as mga amendments to empower the DA to have more enforcement powers, bukas ako diyan. Importante kasi may ngipin especially pagka-tuwing emergency, kapag talagang merong spike sa sitwasyon sa increases in prices, kapag merong rice emergency. Meron kang declaration ng rice emergency pero wala ka namang enforcement. Di ba? So yun ang mga kailangan nating pag-aralan as we go through the rice tariffication amendments and other possible legislation to address,” Pangilinan explained.</p><p>As for Agricultural Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, Jr., he said the department wants to be the secretariat. </p><p>“Gusto rin namin if possible kami yung maging secretariat. If not the member naman of the council, at least maging secretariat para mahandle namin nang maigi yung sitwasyon. Kasi kami nakakaalam kung sino, ano, papaano.”</p><p>He said most commonly smuggled goods are fish, carrots, onions, and other high value crops.</p><p>Economist Dr. Cielito Habito said government should focus on market manipulation.</p><p>“Kailangan nating tuntunin yung supply and value chain nitong mga pagkain, mga agricultural products natin… bakit hindi natin ma-monitor nang mas closely yung mga kung paano tumatakbo yung mga inimport natin, saan yan ini-i-store, paano yan nakakaabot finally sa retail, o saan iniipit,” Habito said.  </p><div><strong>RICE COMPETITIVENESS ENHANCEMENT FUND</strong></div><p>Also discussed during the hearing was the reduced tariff collections which are used to fund the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF).</p><p>The Department of Finance (DOF) said the collection from July 2024 to July 2025 only amounted to P21.6 billion which is P8.4 billion short of the mandated P30 billion, after the tariffs were lowered to 15 percent from 35 percent.  </p><p>“Talagang kakapusin dahil may 30 billion tayo na mandated na ipapasok sa RCEF na inaasahan ng magssaka na tulong sa binhi, sa mga makinarya sa kung ano anong abono na hindi dumarating,” Senator Imee Marcos said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/8/20/da-chief-rice-tariffication-law-threatens-rice-industry-needs-amendment-1138">DA chief: Rice Tariffication Law threatens rice industry, needs amendment</a></div><p>Tiu Laurel replied, “The economic managers also promised anomang kakulangan nung 30B sa collection ay pupunuin ng ating DOF at Treasury ng national fund.”</p>

<p>Senator Francis Pangilinan wants to invite to a Senate hearing the trading companies and customs brokers allegedly linked to smuggled agricultural products.</p>

Senator Francis Pangilinan wants to invite to a Senate hearing the trading companies and customs brokers allegedly linked to smuggled agricultural products.

Companies, customs brokers allegedly linked to smuggled agri products to be called to Senate hearing

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Companies, customs brokers allegedly linked to smuggled agri products to be called to Senate hearing

Victoria Tulad,

ABS-CBN News

Published Aug 20, 2025 03:11 PM PHT

Read More:

Senate Committee on Agriculture

Food and Agrarian Reform

Kiko Pangilinan

Agricultural smuggling

DA

Department of Agriculture

Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr.

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