The Senate is set to prioritize the approval of five bills currently pending in the bicameral conference committee when Congress resumes sessions on January 22, 2024, according to Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri. These bills aim to address various issues and concerns in the country.
One of the key measures being harmonized is Senate Bill (SB) 2432, also known as “An Act Defining the Crimes of Agricultural Economic Sabotage.” This bill seeks to prevent and penalize activities such as smuggling, hoarding, profiteering, and cartels related to agricultural and fishery products. By repealing Republic Act (RA) 10845, or the “Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act of 2016,” the new legislation aims to strengthen efforts against economic sabotage in the agricultural sector.
Zubiri emphasizes the importance of including smuggling, hoarding, profiteering, and cartels as forms of economic sabotage, as these actions lead to price manipulations that greatly disadvantage farmers. He points out that smuggled agricultural products have also been linked to biosecurity concerns such as the spread of pests and diseases like the ‘cocolisap’ and African swine fever (ASF).
By bolstering the government’s anti-smuggling efforts, Zubiri believes that the country’s biosecurity will be enhanced, protecting both the agricultural industry and the general population.
Under the proposed bill, the crimes of agricultural smuggling, hoarding, profiteering, and cartel as economic sabotage will be deemed committed when the value of each agricultural and fishery product involved is at least P1,000,000, based on the Daily Price Index at the time of the crime.
The bill provides clear definitions for each offense. Smuggling, for example, encompasses actions such as importing agricultural and fishery products without the required import clearance, using the import clearance of others, misclassifying, undervaluing or misdeclaring products, and establishing or utilizing dummy corporations, non-government organizations, associations, cooperatives, partnerships, or single proprietorships to acquire import clearance.
Hoarding is defined as the undue accumulation and unreasonable refusal to dispose of, sell, or distribute products to the general public during a shortage, whether artificial or real. Profiteering, on the other hand, refers to the sale or offering for sale of products at a price grossly over their true worth during a shortage or emergency, whether artificial or real.
Those found guilty of these offenses can face severe penalties, including life imprisonment and a fine three times the value of the agricultural and fishery products involved in the crime as economic sabotage.
Aside from the agricultural economic sabotage bill, Zubiri also mentioned two other measures pending in the bicameral conference committee. These include the proposed Act Promoting Mental Health in Basic Education and the Philippine Ecosystem and Natural Capital Accounting System bill. These bills address important issues in education and environmental conservation, respectively.
In conclusion, the Senate’s focus on the approval of pending bills in the bicameral conference committee demonstrates their commitment to addressing crucial concerns in the country. The proposed legislation on agricultural economic sabotage aims to prevent and penalize activities that harm the agricultural sector and disadvantage farmers. By strengthening anti-smuggling efforts, the government can enhance biosecurity and protect the welfare of the public. Furthermore, the inclusion of bills promoting mental health in basic education and environmental conservation reflects the Senate’s dedication to addressing diverse issues that impact the nation.
Source: The Manila Times
