One doesn’t need to be an expert in economics to recognize that there is absolutely no benefit when it comes to rice smuggling and hoarding. These twin “evils” not only disrupt the agricultural market but also inflict severe hardship on the majority, particularly our farmers and producers. Only a select few — the greediest of the greedy — stand to profit. 

For far too long, the shadows of rice smuggling and hoarding have loomed ominously, concealed inside seemingly legitimate warehouses. A closer inspection in some warehouses, however, reveals a different picture — towering stacks of rice sacks, numbering in the thousands and worth hundreds of millions, that are illegally sourced or hoarded for a certain time.  

In response to this crisis of economic sabotage, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) has put forward a swift solution: the intensified inspection of warehouses suspected of harboring smuggled rice or facilitating hoarding. This measure is a direct response to the President's recent order to escalate efforts against these unlawful activities and perhaps also a proof of action when he warned these criminals in his second State-of-the-Nation Address: “Your days are numbered!”  

“As per the directive of the President, we will be conducting more inspections of these warehouses, and the inspection and visitation will be coordinated with other agencies like the DA (Department of Agriculture) and DTI (Department of Trade and Industry),” said Customs Commissioner Bien Rubio during a Palace press briefing on Aug. 29, 2023. 

The Customs chief also added that they will also coordinate with the Department of Justice (DOJ) to file charges against errant warehouse operators if necessary. 

Recent news reports have revealed that the BOC inspected three warehouses located in Bulacan, which yielded ₱505 million worth of smuggled rice from Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand.

While these endeavors against agricultural smuggling and hoarding are commendable, they must be supported by stronger legislation accompanied by stiffer penalties. In the legislative arena, a pending bill aimed at strengthening the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act has gained traction. The bill, filed by Agri Partylist representative Wilbert Lee, aims not only to penalize smugglers, hoarders, and price manipulators, but also government employees and officials implicated in these crimes.

“When these criminals hoard essential agricultural products like rice and onions to drive up prices and amass undue profits, they are capitalizing on the vulnerability of our less fortunate citizens," Lee said. "Such profiteers belong behind bars.”

To support this move, Speaker Martin Romualdez pledged the House's commitment to prioritize the passage of proposed amendments to the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act during the second regular session of the 19th Congress.

Over the years, the menace of agricultural smuggling and hoarding has plunged our nation into economic turmoil, exacerbating the suffering of the impoverished. The time for decisive action should have happened years ago, yet it is not too late. 

Let this generation bear witness to the dismantling of the grip held by these agriculture and rice cartels. The moment has come for hoarders and smugglers to feel the full force of the law and for them to know that their days are truly numbered.