AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert Lee (Rep. Lee's Facebook page)

AGRI Party-list Rep. Manoy Wilbert Lee hailed the Bureau of Customs (BOC) for intercepting P750,000 worth of smuggled agarwood, which led him to renew his personal call for a sustainable agarwood industry that would increase the income of farmers. 

"We laud the BOC for its continued vigilance. While the government must continue cracking down on illegal agarwood trade, a long-term solution lies in fostering a regulated and thriving industry,” Lee said. 

“The rampant smuggling of agarwood shows that there is a huge demand for this product. Instead of allowing this illicit trade to flourish, we should focus on developing a legal, sustainable, and well-regulated agarwood industry that benefits our farmers and the economy,” noted the Bicolano. 

The BOC recently seized the high-value forest product, which is considered endangered under Philippine law and international conservation agreements. 

Derived from Aquilaria trees, agarwood is highly sought after for its use in perfumes, incense and traditional medicine. 

AGRI Party-list, which is running for reelection in the mid-term elections this May, is the principal author of House Bill (HB) No. 10320 or the “Agarwood Industry Development Act”. This aims to promote the farming, harvesting, and commercialization of agarwood while ensuring the protection of wild Aquilaria trees. 

“Our proposed measure aims to ensure that only legally cultivated trees are traded. It also offers livelihood opportunities for farmers and indigenous communities, who can legally grow agarwood on their lands while contributing to conservation efforts,” AGRI stated. 

“If maximized, agarwood industry could generate opportunities up to 30,000 jobs directly and indirectly, including roles in cultivation, harvesting, processing, marketing, and sales,” it added. 

Under HB No.10320, Agarwood Industry Authority (AIA) and Agarwood Research Office (ARO) shall be established to oversee the industry’s growth and guide our farmers to maximize its benefits. 

AGRI urged swift action on HB No.10320, stressing that the government must optimize the industry by allowing more Filipinos to venture into it while ensuring protection of natural resources to avoid exploitation. 

“We need to strike a balance between conservation and economic opportunities," it stressed.