More than 1,000 sacks of seized smuggled rice were distributed to beneficiaries in General Trias, Cavite—the second community to receive rice seized by the Bureau of Customs (BOC).
The 1,200 sacks of rice distributed to Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries in General Trias were part of the 42,180 sacks of smuggled rice recently confiscated by the BOC-Port of Zamboanga.
The seized smuggled rice were eventually turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) after the importers failed to comply with the legal documents.
On Tuesday, Sept. 19, a total of 1,500 sacks of smuggled rice were also donated to beneficiaries in Zamboanga Sibugay.
Both batches of rice donation were part of the over 42,000 sacks of smuggled rice.
In his speech, the President assured the Cavite residents that the government is working hard to provide affordable staple food in the market and vowed to develop the agricultural sector in the Philippines.
"Ngayon, sa agrikultura, ang kailangan niyong gawin, ang kailangang gawin ng pamahalaan ay pagandahin ang produksyon, pagandahin ang ani at tulungan ang pag-process ng mga produkto ng agrikultura (In terms of agriculture, the government must improve production and assist in the processing of agricultural goods),” Marcos said.
“Kailangan din namin na higpitan ang pagbantay sa illegal na importation ng lahat ng agri-products kaya’t ‘yan ang aming ginawa at binigyan ko ng instruction ang Bureau of Customs at sabi ko sa kanila imbestigahan niyo nang mabuti at hanapin ninyo ang mga illegal importers, ang mga smuggler ng bigas (We also need to intensify efforts agains illegal importation of agricultural products, so I ordered the BOC to investigate and go after these illegal importers, rice smugglers)," he added.
The President also led the distribution of P1,577,000 worth of various assistance from the Department of Agriculture (DA) to at least 217 farmers and other beneficiaries also in General Trias.
Other distributed assistance were P557,000 worth of assistance under the Maunlad na Agrikultura sa Nayon Rice Production Program of the DA were given to 126 rice farmers; P106,000-aid under the Corn Production Program to five corn farmers; P810,000-assistance under the High-Value Crops Development Program to 66 beneficiaries; and P104,000-assistance under DA’s National Urban and Peri-Urban Program to 20 Peri-Urban Practitioners.
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