Bagong batas, nagdedeklara sa smuggling, hoarding ng agricultural products bilang economic sabotage-DA

TINANGGAP ni Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr. ang pagtinta sa Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act, isang batas na magpapataw ng mas mahigpit na parusa laban sa mga ‘smugglers at hoarders’ ng agricultural food products kabilang na ang mga cartel.

“This new law that penalizes violators with higher fines and long jail terms, should instill fear in the minds of smugglers and hoarders, and force them to mend their ways,” ayon kay Tiu Laurel.

“This would also benefit our farmers and fisherfolk whose livelihood are imperiled by unscrupulous hoarders and smugglers,” dagdag na wika nito.

Nilagdaan upang maging ganap na batas ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr., araw ng Miyerkules, itinuturing ng Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act (AGES) ang smuggling at hoarding ng agricultural food products bilang economic sabotage kapag ang halaga ng kalakal ay lumampas sa P10 million. Kinokonsidera rin na economic sabotage ang paglikha sa cartel at financing smugglers at hoarders.

“Aside from a fine that is five-times the value of smuggled or hoarded agricultural or fishery products, violators face life imprisonment if proven guilty,” ayon sa DA.

Ang Agricultural products na saklaw ng AGES ay bigas, mais, baka at iba pang ruminants, baboy, manok, bawang, sibuyas, at iba pang gulay, prutas , isda, at iba pang aquatic products sa kanilang raw state.

“AGES also grants rewards of up to P20 million and other incentives to those who will provide information that would lead to the investigation, arrest, prosecution and conviction of smugglers and hoarders. This should lead to the radical reduction of their ranks,” ayon kay Tiu Laurel.

Samantala, nire-require naman ng batas ang pagtatatag at pagpapanatili ng Daily Price Index, ang Bureau of Agricultural Research at Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service ng DA ang mamamahala nito. (Daris Jose)