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Government

DAR : HEADS TO ROLL IN DA OVER FOOD SMUGGLING

Agriculture Secretary William Dar vowed to intensify efforts to weed out corruption within the Department of Agriculture (DA), saying that he will not hesitate to put heads on the chopping block for alleged involvement in the smuggling of agricultural and fishery products. “We strongly condemn smuggling, which deprives our farmers and fishers of their incomes […]

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Government

DAR BATS TWO-PRONGED APPROACH VS AGRI SMUGGLING

Agriculture Secretary William Dar puts forward a two-pronged approach to curb the illegal entry of agricultural products into the country after assuring the public of zero tolerance for any form of corruption. “First, let us continue to intensify our border protection and coordination efforts with the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and other agencies. Kapag may […]

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Politics

SOLON: PROBE GOV’T EXECS LINKED TO AGRI SMUGGLING

A party-list lawmaker called for an investigation and the filing of charges against “big-time” personalities in the government allegedly involved in agricultural smuggling. Magsasaka Party-list Representative Argel Cabatbat said the Department of Agriculture (DA) should look into the smuggling problem, particularly the involvement of officials from the Bureau of Plant Industry as if they are […]

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Politics

‘UNTOUCHABLES’ BEHIND FOOD SMUGGLING – PANGILINAN

Vice-presidential candidate Senator Kiko Pangilinan did not mince his words and said “untouchables” are behind the continuous large-scale food smuggling in the country, affecting the livelihood of local farmers, particularly those in Benguet. At the continuation of the investigation by the Senate Committee of the Whole on the issue, Pangilinan said that the government should […]

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Politics

STOP IMPORTING ‘GALUNGGONG’ – PANGILINAN

As the Department of Agriculture’s claim of fish shortage is disputed even by the fisheries sector, vice-presidential aspirant Senator Kiko Pangilinan said smugglers of food items will be jailed and the “mafia-style” importation of galunggong (round scad) and other food items will be dismantled under a Robredo-Pangilinan administration. “Tulad ng pag-import ng PPEs (personal protective […]

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Politics

STOP AGRICULTURE’S ‘CYCLE OF POVERTY’ – GORDON

Senator Dick Gordon called on the public and the private sectors to help break what he called a “cycle of disaster and poverty” that has been pulling back the agriculture sector for decades. Gordon, who chairs the Senate government corporations and public enterprises, said the Filipino farmers are always at a disadvantage yearly due to […]

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Politics

BODYCAMS TO CURB SMUGGLING IN BOC — VILLANUEVA

An affordable and available gadget could save Filipino jobs lost to reported rampant smuggling of agricultural products, Senator Joel Villanueva, chair of the Senate labor and employment committee, said. Taking the lead from the police, Bureau of Customs personnel should start wearing body cameras during raids and inspections on imported food shipment, Villanueva said. “If […]

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Politics

PANGILINAN: PROTECT FARMERS, FISHERS VS SMUGGLING

Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan said that apart from the ongoing pandemic, smuggling of agricultural products is a big blow to the income of the country’s farmers and fishermen. In his opening statement at the Senate Committee of the Whole hearing today, the former food security secretary expressed his dismay over the seeming leniency of the […]

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Politics

PANGILINAN BACKS PROBE OF AGRI PRODUCTS SMUGGLING

Senator Kiko Pangilinan welcomed and joined the move to investigate in aid of legislation the rampant smuggling of agricultural products in the country. In his manifestation, the former Senate agriculture chair and food security secretary expressed his support to the call of Senate President Tito Sotto to probe large-scale smuggling of agricultural products and its […]

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Politics

PROBE SMUGGLING OF CARROTS IN BENGUET – PANGILINAN

Senator Kiko Pangilinan expressed alarm over the reported sale of smuggled carrots in the province of Benguet. “Nakakaalarma ito dahil apektado ang benta ng mga taga-Benguet sa pagpasok ng puslit na carrots,” Pangilinan said. The veteran legislator said concerned authorities, especially the Department of Agriculture, should investigate this reported smuggling of carrots. “Kailangang imbestigahan ito […]