Agricultural Smuggling Exposed: Senate Inquiry Reveals Widespread Abuse of Import Licenses

Strategic Insights -

A recent Senate agriculture panel hearing in Manila uncovered the extent of agricultural smuggling and abuse of import licenses, threatening the livelihood of Filipino farmers and fisherfolk. The inquiry revealed a complex web of intermediaries and brokers exploiting small traders, using rented permits to smuggle agricultural goods into the country. The Senate vowed to dismantle the network and hold accountable those responsible for the widespread abuse.

Key Takeaways:

  • Berches Consumer Goods Trading admitted to lending its trader's license, which was linked to P59 million worth of shipments seized by the Bureau of Customs in Subic last July. The shipment contained carrots and white onions misdeclared as 'chicken poppers.'
  • Jovelyn Berches Daria, owner of Berches, confessed to renting out her import license for a fee arranged by brokers, receiving only P500 from the P3,000 to P10,000 in commissions per container.
  • Customs Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno described the cases as 'classic examples' of consignees-for-hire, where small traders are used as fronts by bigger players to move agricultural goods into the country.
  • Sen. Francis Pangilinan stated that the supposed importers were mere dummies, allowing real operators to evade accountability.
  • Dexter Juala, a FoodPanda rider, was listed as the operator of EPCB Consumer Goods Trading, but insisted he had no knowledge of the transactions and had no idea about the shipments.
  • Sen. Erwin Tulfo likened the use of fake owners in the flood control controversy to the agricultural smuggling operations.
  • Sen. Raffy Tulfo questioned the Department of Agriculture (DA) for issuing special importation permits despite the oversupply of fish and seafood products in the country.

Statistics:

  • P59 million worth of shipments seized by the Bureau of Customs in Subic contained carrots and white onions misdeclared as 'chicken poppers' (Source: Bureau of Customs).
  • Berches Consumer Goods Trading received P500 from the P3,000 to P10,000 in commissions per container for renting out their import license (Source: Senate hearing).
  • General Santos and Bohol were cited as examples of places with an abundance of fish supply, with some fish ending up spoiling due to the lack of cold storage facilities (Source: Sen. Raffy Tulfo).

Sources:

  • Senate hearing on agriculture.
  • Bureau of Customs.
  • Department of Agriculture (DA).
  • Sen. Francis Pangilinan.
  • Sen. Raffy Tulfo.
  • Sen. Erwin Tulfo.
  • Customs Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno.