In the face of mounting pressure from local producers and the rising cost of basic goods, the Department of Agriculture (DA) has intensified its campaign against the smuggling of farm products, seizing a record P2.83 billion worth of illicit goods in 2024 alone.

The figure, confirmed by DA Inspectorate and Enforcement Assistant Secretary James Layug, represents nearly a billion pesos more than what was intercepted in 2023, marking a sharp escalation in enforcement and signaling a more rigid stance under Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr.

The agency conducted at least 71 operations targeting illegal shipments of rice, onions, frozen meat and other key food items, many of which were found to be expired, unregistered or concealed to evade customs inspection.

Among the biggest hauls was P1.9 billion worth of smuggled rice intercepted during first-border inspections, including a separate P316 million in unregistered fisheries products.

Other seizures included carrots, garlic, black chicken, unlabeled dairy products, and vegetables stored in cold facilities across Valenzuela, Navotas, Bulacan and Pampanga.

The campaign builds on the enforcement powers granted by Republic Act 12022, or the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act, signed into law by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in September 2024. The law declares large-scale smuggling, hoarding, profiteering and cartel-like manipulation of prices as economic sabotage — a non-bailable offense punishable by life imprisonment and fines equivalent to five times the value of the goods involved. Under the law, informants may also receive rewards of up to P20 million, a measure meant to encourage whistleblowing within logistics chains and port authorities.

While enforcement remains at the forefront of the DA’s crackdown, Tiu Laurel stressed that the agency’s core mandate is not enforcement alone but also the protection and promotion of local producers. He has repeatedly emphasized his commitment to easing regulatory hurdles to prevent smuggling and profiteering.

10 companies blacklisted

He added that the DA has blacklisted 10 companies in just the past six months — more than what the agency had accomplished over the past six years combined.

Despite these gains, farmers in key agricultural provinces continue to suffer the brunt of illegal imports. Onion growers in Nueva Ecija and vegetable farmers in Benguet have complained that smuggled goods, often sold at below-market prices, have flooded wet markets and trading posts, dragging down domestic prices and pushing many producers to the brink of bankruptcy.

A surge of illegally imported carrots was reported earlier this year, even prompting calls from lawmakers for stronger port inspections and closer coordination with local government units.

To support enforcement, the DA has partnered with the Philippine National Police, the Bureau of Customs and the National Bureau of Investigation, conducting joint raids on suspected smuggling rings in Subic, Cagayan de Oro and Manila.

The Department of Justice has likewise committed to fast-tracking cases involving economic sabotage, while the Department of Trade and Industry has stepped in to monitor price manipulation and potential collusion among wholesalers.

Still, experts argue that anti-smuggling measures are only part of the equation. Structural weaknesses in agriculture — ranging from inadequate post-harvest facilities to the absence of cold chain systems — continue to put local farmers at a disadvantage.

Without substantial investment in logistics, irrigation and production support, they say, Filipino growers will remain vulnerable not just to illegal competition but also to rising production costs, climate shocks and erratic market access.

The DA said it is working to boost rice harvest targets and improve logistics systems to reduce post-harvest losses, particularly for perishables. It is also advocating for regulatory reforms to streamline permit processes, lower tariffs on critical farm inputs, and improve credit access through farmer cooperatives and cluster farming schemes.

Tiu Laurel said a “whole-of-government approach” is necessary not just to catch smugglers but to revitalize the sector and assure farmers that the government is firmly on their side.