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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider LEDAC-listed bill giving more teeth to Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act OK'd on 2nd reading

LEDAC-listed bill giving more teeth to Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act OK'd on 2nd reading

Published Sep 25, 2023 03:24 pm

At A Glance

  • The House of Representatives has approved on second reading during a marathon plenary session the measure seeking to amend--and give more teeth to--the existing Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act, or Republic Act (RA) No.10845. 

House plenary.jpgThe House plenary (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)

The House of Representatives has approved on second reading during a marathon plenary session the measure seeking to amend--and give more teeth to--the existing Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act, or Republic Act (RA) No.10845.

At just before 11 p.m. Monday, Sept. 25, House Deputy Speaker TUCP Party-list Rep. Raymond Democrito Mendoza declared House Bill (HB) No. 9284, as amended, as having gained penultimate passage in the chamber following a simple voice vote (ayes vs. nayes).

The ayes drowned out the nayes

Titled the Anti Agri-Fishery Commodities and Tobacco Economic Sabotage Act of 2023, HB No.9284 was passed during a temporary suspension of the plenary debates on the P5.768-trillion General Appropriations Bill (GAB) or proposed national budget for 2024.

It is among the 20 identified by the Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) that's slated for approval on third and final reading by the House of Representatives before year's end.

A key provision of the bill--at least after it hurlded the House Committee on Agriculture and Food chaired by Quezon 1st district Rep. Wilfrido Mark Enverga--was the charging of "economic sabotage" to individuals who committed agricultural smuggling, hoarding, cartelizing, and profiteering.

The penalty for this is life imprisonment.

House Speaker Martin Romualdez said that upon enactment, the measure would protect farmers and fishermen from smugglers, especially in times when prices are manipulated and agricultural products are hoarded.

“We have to shield them from these atrocious activities to encourage them to produce more rice and other staples so the country can attain food sufficiency,” Romualdez, Leyte's 1st district congressman, said.

Monday's plenary session began at 9 a.m.

Related Tags

Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act second reading House of Representatives
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