THE House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved on second reading the measure that will hopefully serve as a “permanent deterrent” to hoarders and price manipulators of basic commodities by imposing life sentence as maximum penalty for offenders.
The Legislative Chamber, under the leadership of Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, has just put more teeth into the country’s amended and expanded Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Law by providing life imprisonment to those who will be found guilty of violating the economic sabotage law.
“This is because we want to send a chilling effect on these cartels that have been operating for decades now. We really mean business this time. And our primary task here is to protect the welfare of the masses – provide them with the most affordable goods in the market,” he said.
The new bill classifies smuggling of rice and other agricultural products as “economic sabotage.”
“President Marcos – as Chief Executive and secretary of agriculture – fully appreciates the adverse impact of the smuggling of rice and other staples on farmers, fisherfolk and on consumers. We share his concern for the affected sectors,” the Speaker said.
The House Committee on Agriculture and Food headed by Quezon Rep. Wilfrido Mark Enverga, endorsed for plenary approval the proposed agricultural economic sabotage law on September 20.
Last week, Speaker Romualdez assured that the measure, part of the 20 bills listed by the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council for passage this December, will be approved on third and final reading before Congress goes on recess on September 30.
Speaker Romualdez said once the measure becomes a law, it would protect farmers and fishermen from smugglers, especially in times when prices are manipulated and agricultural products are hoarded.
“We have to shield them from these atrocious activities to encourage them to produce more rice and other staples so the country can attain food sufficiency,” Speaker Romualdez said.
He said the proposed law would also benefit the public in terms of stable prices as it would discourage hoarding and price manipulation. “We have to work on and pass this measure as expeditiously as we can,” he added.
