The Department of Agriculture (DA) has called on the Bureau of Customs (BOC) to release 580 metric tons of confiscated frozen mackerel to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to bolster relief operations and food security.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. made the request in a letter to Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio on Nov. 18, citing laboratory tests by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) that confirmed the fish is safe for human consumption.
“Consequently, the fish products are deemed fit for immediate release and can be utilized to address food security needs, especially in relief operations,” Laurel said in a statement.
“This initiative would support the DSWD and the Department of Agriculture’s ongoing efforts to provide essential aid to victims of the recent typhoon,” he added.
The shipment, valued at ₱178.5 million and consisting of 21 container vans, was seized at the Manila International Container Port in early October for lacking sanitary and phytosanitary import clearances.
It was intercepted during a joint operation by the DA’s Inspectorate and Enforcement Office and the BOC.
Laurel stressed the urgency of distributing the fish to typhoon-affected communities, emphasizing its role in addressing immediate food security needs.