Senator Francis Pangilinan has renewed his call for a full-scale, coordinated crackdown on agricultural smuggling, warning that the long-standing crisis continues to hurt Filipino farmers and threaten the country’s food security.
“A single sack of smuggled rice is a direct blow to a Filipino farmer. Every shipment that slips through is stolen income, stolen dignity. This must end,” said Pangilinan.
He voiced support for Customs Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno’s reform efforts but stressed that piecemeal solutions won’t work.
The senator called for a whole-of-government approach, emphasizing the need for stronger enforcement and accountability, not just confiscation, but prosecution of smugglers and corrupt officials.
“Smuggling is not just theft. It’s betrayal–of our farmers, our fisherfolk, and our future. If we’re serious about food security, we must lock up the big-time smugglers and dismantle their networks,” accoriding to him.
Pangilinan also outlined key measures to intensify the anti-smuggling drive:
• Expand the mandate and coordination powers of the Inter-Agency Task Force
• Enable farmers and vendors to report smuggling without fear
• Fast-track legal and administrative cases against Customs personnel and traders involved
• Institutionalize the Sagip Saka Act as a proactive measure to strengthen local production and direct market access
“This is not just about enforcement. It’s about defending the hands that feed us. Smuggling doesn’t just rob our economy–it robs every Filipino who grows, harvests, and brings food to our tables,” said Pangilinan.IMT
