Press Release - Villar gives "more teeth" to protect the agri sector and the Ph economy

The hardships being suffered by Filipino farmers and consumers due to cartel, holding, profiteering and other corrupt practices will soon be stopped as the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act is closer to becoming a law.

Before the 2nd Regular Session of the 19th Congress adjourned last Wednesday, the Senate retified the bicameral conference committee report on the Anti - Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act.

"The measure intends to repeal the seven-year old Republic Act No. 10845, or the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act" and introduce several nefarious acts other than smuggling, such as, hoarding, profiteering, cartel of agricultural and fisheries products," said the Senator.

Villar, principal author and sponsor of the measure, stressed that this is an act of self-preservation against the manipulative scheme of economic saboteurs and the protection of farmers' livelihood.

This is also a protection of the State from tax evaders and non-payers of duties. This will ensure the well-being of our agricultural producers, consumers, and the whole economy," she emphasized.

The Senate passed Senate Bill No. 2432 or the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Bill" in December and has been certified as urgent by President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.

On March 20, 2024, both Houses of Congress went into a pre-bicam conference for the bill.

Salient features of the Act are as follows:

1. The creation of the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Task Force directly under the control and supervision of the Office of the President.
2. Creation of an Enforcement Group which shall have the authority to visit areas where the agricultural and fisheries products are located on the strength of a Letter of Authority (LoA), issued by the Executive Committee of the Council;
3. Creation of the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Court under the jurisdiction of the Court of Tax Appeal;
4. Creation of a Special Team of Prosecutors from the DOJ for the expeditious prosecution of cases involving agri-economic sabotage;
5. Creation under the DA of the Daily Price Index Monitoring Office, established and maintained by the AMAS and the BAR to monitor and report on the prices of enumerated agricultural products in all