House Speaker Martin Romualdez has called for a tougher campaign against agricultural smuggling on the back of the Bureau of Customs' (BOC) confiscation of P85.1 billion worth of contraband last year.

“Maganda ang ginagawa ng Customs sa paglaban sa smuggling, pero hindi tayo dapat huminto. Kailangang mas paigtingin ang kampanya lalo na laban sa agricultural smuggling na sumisira sa kabuhayan ng ating mga magsasaka at nagpapahirap sa taumbayan,” Romualdez stressed.

(The Customs is doing well in its fight against smuggling, but we shouldn't stop there. We need to intensify the campaign, especially against agricultural smuggling that ruins the livelihood of our farmers and burdens our people.)

The BOC reportedly carried out 2,100 anti-smuggling operations in 2024.

While the House leader recognized these significant achievements, he reiterated the urgent need to step up enforcement efforts against agricultural smuggling, which remains a serious threat to local farmers and food security.

He pointed to the alarming reports of massive rice shipments left uncollected at ports and stockpiling of frozen chicken imports, which have fueled suspicions of deliberate supply manipulation.

He stressed that these immoral and illegal schemes hurt farmers and consumers, as well as distort prices and place the nation’s food security at risk.

“Huwag nating hayaang magamit ang smuggling at hoarding bilang sandata laban sa ating ekonomiya. Dapat supilin ang mga sindikato at tiyakin na ang pagkain ay abot-kaya ng bawat Pilipino,” Romualdez said.

(Let's not allow the weaponization of smuggling and hoarding against our economy. Syndicates must be shuttered, and affordable food ensured for all Filipinos.)

Romualdez called for stricter border controls, stronger inter-agency coordination, and faster prosecution of smugglers to dismantle these illegal operations. He noted that smuggling is not just an economic problem but a direct attack on farmers, consumers, and the country’s stability.

“Hindi pwedeng basta hulihin lang ang mga puslit na produkto. Kailangang wasakin ang buong sindikato ng smuggling. Hindi lang ito laban ng Customs—laban ito ng buong gobyerno para sa taumbayan,” he emphasized.

(The confiscation of contraband is not enough. This isn't solely the Customs' fight--this is the entire government’s fight, for the people.)

Romualdez urged BOC to address systemic weaknesses that allow smuggled goods to enter the country.

Among others, he pushed for advanced monitoring technology, stricter tracking of agricultural imports, and swift action against enablers of smuggling, whether in the private or public sector.

Beyond enforcement, Romualdez stressed the need for government safeguards against price manipulation, ensuring fair market conditions for farmers and consumers alike. He reaffirmed the House of Representatives’ commitment to supporting legislative measures that would strengthen Customs’ enforcement capabilities and stabilize food prices.

Romualdez expressed confidence that sustained vigilance and decisive action will help curb agricultural smuggling, ensure Filipino farmers thrive, and protect consumers from unfair trade practices.