LEGAZPI CITY – Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary William Dar on Tuesday said the ongoing investigation into the importation of smuggled vegetables from China has resulted in the raid of at least three warehouses owned by big-time smugglers in Metro Manila and Subic, Zambales.
Dar, in an ambush interview here, said the DA and the Bureau of Customs (BOC) have stepped up the surveillance operation to pin down suspected smugglers of imported vegetables especially cheap imported carrots, which according to reports, have been flooding the markets of the National Capital Region.
He said the BOC-initiated raids have resulted in the confiscation of multi-million pesos worth of smuggled agricultural products and the agency is now preparing to file charges against three businessmen tagged as behind the illegal shipments.
Dar, however, refused to reveal the identities of the alleged big-time smugglers pending the formal filing of the cases.
The DA chief visited Albay to turn over PHP38 million worth of production input and farm equipment to various farmers' groups and irrigators' associations.
He also led the signing of a memorandum of agreement with Albay Governor Al Francis Bichara together with other parties involved in the implementation of the Provincial-led Agriculture and Fisheries Extension Systems (PAFES) program.
Dar said PAFES is a modality of implementing agriculture and fisheries extension services in the provinces with the impending implementation of “full devolution” as stipulated in the Mandanas Ruling to take effect in 2022.
PAFES is being piloted in selected provinces. In the Bicol region, the province of Albay was selected as the pilot province.
Dar also turned over PHP29.5 million worth of farm machinery and equipment to various farmers' associations in Albay comprising 14 units of four-wheel-drive tractors and six units of rice combine harvesters. (PNA)
