Approval of agricultural economic sabotage bill sought

MANILA, Philippines — Tobacco growers urged Congress to convene the bicameral conference committee to iron out disagreeing provisions and approve the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage bill before President Marcos’ State of the Nation Address (SONA).

In a joint statement, the Philippine Tobacco Growers Association (PTGA) and the National Federation of Tobacco Farmers Association and Cooperatives (NAFTAC) called on lawmakers to convene the committee to discuss the “urgently” needed legislation.

Marcos certified the legislative measure as urgent in 2023.

The proposed legislation aims to expand the anti-agricultural smuggling act by imposing heftier fines on violators and covering additional commodities such as tobacco.

Under the proposed measure, agricultural smuggling is classified as economic sabotage, which is punishable by life imprisonment.

As penalty, smugglers will be required to pay bigger fines amounting to thrice the value of their smuggled agricultural products.

The bill is also part of the identified priority bills of the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council.

The groups said the passage of the bill would curb the rampant agricultural smuggling that threatens the livelihoods of local farmers, including tobacco growers.

“We hope that Congress can finally have a Bicameral Conference Committee so it can be signed by President Marcos before his SONA. This is one of the priorities of the Marcos administration,” PTGA president Saturnino Distor said.

“We believe the bill will help prevent the smuggling of agricultural products and will deter these criminals. We hope that the happy days of smugglers, hoarders and cartels are numbered,” NAFTAC chairman Bernard Vicente said.

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri earlier vowed that the bicameral conference committee would pass the legislative measure before June in time for the President’s SONA.

Congress resumed session last April 29 and is set to adjourn on May 24.