AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert T. Lee (Facebook)

AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert T. Lee is prodding the government to "make an example" out of smugglers of agricultural products in order to discourage acts from such criminals.

Lee issued the call following reports that P202 million worth of frozen mackerel--allegedly smuggled from China--was confiscated by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and Department of Agriculture (DA) at the Port of Manila. 

“Natutuwa tayo sa mga balitang may nasasabat na mga smuggled agri products, at na kakasuhan ang mga nasa likod nito (We're delighted to hear news about smuggled agri products getting intercepted and charges being filed against the smugglers behind it)," he said.

"Pero nababahala tayo na kahit may naipasa na tayong batas kung saan pinabigat na ang parusa sa mga agri smugglers, hoarders, price manipulators at kartel, ay marami pa rin ang naghahasik ng lagim sa kabuhayan ng ating mga kababayan,” noted Lee.

(But we're concerned to hear about the continued activities of these evil doers despite our enactment of a law that stiffens the punishment against agri smugglers, hoarders, price manipulators and cartel operators.)

"Kailangan dito ng mas mahigpit at epektibong implementasyon ng batas. Dapat iparamdam sa mga demonyong ito ang ngipin ng ating batas at may maipakulong na, dahil hindi titigil ang mga kriminal na ito sa pag-abuso hangga’t walang nasasampolan sa kanila,” he added. 

(We need a stricter and more effective implementation of the law. We.need to make these demons feel the fangs of our law by jailing someone because these criminals stop until we make an sxample out of one of them.)

AGRI Party-list, which is running for reelection in the 2025 mid-term polls, is the principal author of Republic Act (RA) No. 10845 or the “Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act  of 2016” and its amended version, RA No. 12022 or the “Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act".

AGRI then urged both chambers of Congress to immediately convene the bicameral conference committee and finalize the provisions of the House and Senate versions of the Blue Economy Act.

"Blue economy" refers to a practical ocean-based economic model using green infrastructure and technologies and innovative financing mechanisms to achieve the twin goals of protecting our oceans and exclusive economic zones such as the West Philippine Sea (WPS) and enhancing its contribution to sustainable livelihood and development of fishing communities.

“As an archipelagic country, this measure would greatly contribute to increasing fish production and income of fisherfolk, expanding livelihood opportunities and achieving cheaper food prices and food security goals,” said the party-list.