GEN. TRIAS CITY, CAVITE (PIA) – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Friday stressed the government’s drive against rice smuggling as he continued distributing confiscated rice to poor families in General Trias, Cavite to help them cope with rising prices.

The President distributed 1,200 sacks of rice to the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries, which was part of the 42,180 sacks of rice confiscated by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) in one of its warehouse raids last week.  

During the distribution, the President, who is also the Agriculture Secretary, cited the need to improve agricultural productivity and help process agricultural products.

“Sa agrikultura, ang kailangang gawin ng pamahalaan ay pagandahin ang produksyon, pagandahin ang ani, at tulungan ang pagproseso ng mga produktong pang-agrikultura.” 

President Marcos added that the government will focus on addressing the illegal importation of agricultural products. 

“Binigyan ko ng instructions ang Bureau of Customs (BOC) [na] imbestigahang mabuti at hanapin ang mga illegal importers [at] mga smuggler ng bigas.”

[I have instructed the Bureau of Customs to investigate and look for the illegal rice importers and smugglers.] 

In his message, the President cited rice hoarding as one of the main causes of the rising prices in the market. 

“Bakit aakyat ang presyong [ng bigas]? Natuklasan namin na ang nangyayari ay ‘yung tinatawag na hoarding [kung saan] mag-smuggle sila ng bigas, itinatago nila para tumaas ang presyo, bago nila bitawan at pagkakitaan ‘yung malaking halaga.” 

PBBM added: “Hindi naman tama na pinahihirapan ang taumbayan para lamang kumita. Kaya sinabi ko sa ating mga ahensya [na] tingnan nang mabuti at tiyakin natin na ‘yung mga smuggled rice ay mahahanap natin dahil ito ang dapat ibigay sa taumbayan.” 

[It is not right to burden the people just to earn. That is why I instructed our agencies to ensure that we find those smuggled rice which should be given to the people.”

The chief executive said the government waited for 15 days to let the alleged smugglers prove the legitimacy of their operations, which caused delays in the distribution of rice. He added that the government is trying to cut the holding period to seven (7) days. 

“Dahil kung legal ka na importer, ay hawak mo dapat ang mga dokumento,” the chief executive emphasized. 

With the help of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the DA started distributing the smuggled rice to 4Ps beneficiaries. (PB/PIA-4A)