Agricultural economic sabotage bill certified as urgent

MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos has certified as urgent a measure that defines and imposes penalties for agricultural economic sabotage as his administration grapples with escalating prices of rice and other farm goods.

In a letter sent to Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri on Sept. 20, Marcos certified the need to immediately pass Senate Bill 2432, citing the rising prices of agricultural products caused by hoarding, smuggling and other illegal activities.

“The need to facilitate the passage of this important piece of legislation is imperative, especially now that the country is beset by rising prices and shortages in agricultural products, partly due to the nefarious acts of smuggling, hoarding, profiteering and cartel,” the President said.

“It will also promote the productivity of the agriculture sector, protect farmers and fisherfolk from unscrupulous traders and importers and ensure reasonable and affordable prices of agricultural and fishery products for consumers,” he added.

The certification exempts the measure from the rule that a bill can only be passed on final reading three days after its approval on second reading.

If enacted, Senate Bill 2432 would repeal Republic Act 10845 or the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act of 2016.

The Senate vowed to pass the bill on final reading next week, with Zubiri saying on Wednesday that the urgent passage of the bill would make agricultural smuggling an act of economic sabotage, a non-bailable offense.

Sen. JV Ejercito, who authored RA 10845 that it seeks to repeal, said the bill would undergo the period of amendments next week and would immediately be passed from second to third reading because of the certification of urgency.

The Senate will go on break from Sept.