Nearly three months after signing Republic Act No. 12022 or the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the new measure had caught its first case.

On Saturday, Marcos visited the Manila International Container Terminal (MICT) in Tondo, Manila to inspect 21 container vans carrying frozen Mackarels.

These fish products were intercepted by the Bureau of Customs (BoC) in September following its arrival from China.

According to the BoC, the shipment entered the country without Sanitary and Phytosanitary Import Clearance (SPIC) from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR). As a result, the container vans were deemed abandoned and forfeited in favor of the government.

Marcos said smuggled shipments such as this damages the market of agricultural products.

“They are smuggling agricultural goods. They are destroying the market here in the Philippines, taking advantage of people. Nothing is returned to the government and what should be paid to the government just goes to pockets,” he said.

With this, Marcos ordered the BoC and the DA to strictly enforce the new anti-agricultural economic measure which he hopes could help ease the struggles of the market especially the prices of basic commodities and enhance food security.

“This is the whole so-called chain that we need to break. And this, as I said, is the first case under the new law of the Anti-Agricultural Sabotage Act. So, I’ve spoken to our Bureau of Customs, and I’ve spoken to the Department of Agriculture and we have to keep going. We need to strengthen this further,” he stressed.

The Chief Executive lauded the coordinated efforts of the BoC, the DA, and the BFAR in maximizing the use of the seized fish products.

The 21 container vans were carrying frozen Mackarel products with an estimated value of P178.5 million.

Each product is packed in boxes which produce 58,800 cartons of frozen goods.

Safe to eat

According to the DA, the BFAR conducted laboratory tests on the Mackarels to ensure that they are safe for public consumption.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. earlier asked the BOC to turn over the frozen goods to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to be distributed to typhoon victims in addition to the relief packs that they were given.

For his part, Marcos emphasized that these mackerel can feed a lot of people, especially that they remain fresh and safe to eat.

The DSWD is set to distribute these food products to over 150,000 families residing in marginalized areas in 17 localities in Metro Manila and one each in Region III and Region IV-A.

Early Christmas in Tondo

After inspecting the container vans, Marcos went to the nearby area of Baseco Port where he led the distribution of the confiscated fish products to Manila residents. Each family received two kilos of mackerel.

“Our Christmas gift is different. Instead of ham and roasted pigs, we brought you fish. So that it won’t be wasted,” Marcos tells residents.

Marcos also thanked Manila residents for coming out for the distribution of the Mackarels.

“I'm glad you're all here, so you can eat the fish so it does not go to waste,” he said.

Meanwhile, the DA and the DSWD signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the turnover of the frozen fish products which will be distributed by the latter agency.

In a separate interview, the BoC said that similar shipments are undergoing legal processes and if deemed safe to eat also, it can turnover the goods to the DA.

“Commissioner Rubio has also ordered to process similar shipments and if it can be done like we did, if it can be distributed to our countrymen, we will donate it again,” Customs Assistant Commissioner and spokesperson Vincent Philip Maronilla said.

He also assured the DA that the BoC is prepared to help the agriculture department as well as other agencies in anti-smuggling operations.