BOC seeks to stop smuggling of veggies

SMUGGLED Carrots from China flood local markets. —FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Customs (BOC) will update its protocols to prevent the smuggling of agricultural products into the country, particularly during the last quarter of the year, according to Assistant Customs Commissioner Vincent Maronilla.

Maronilla said the BOC met with the Department of Agriculture (DA) to discuss measures to address the illegal entry of agricultural products.

These actions are being taken in the wake of complaints from farmers and hog raisers against the influx of cheap, smuggled carrots and other agricultural products that are flooding the markets in the country and further depleting their income, which had already gone down due to the pandemic.

Maronilla said the BOC and the DA would identify loopholes in their respective processes to prevent the smuggling of agricultural products, especially at this time of year.

“During the ‘ber’ months, we shift our attention to agricultural products. This is because these products come in during the ber months. Either they have permits or, usually, many attempts to smuggle them in because they are cheap and there is a big potential to earn,” he said.

He said the agencies’ studies of their processes were meant to find ways to stop the illegal entry of the products.