4Ps beneficiaries in General Trias, Cavite awaiting the distribution of rice on Friday, September 22, 2023. (Jean Mangaluz / INQUIRER.net)
MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Friday led the distribution of confiscated smuggled rice to around 1,200 Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries in General Trias, Cavite.
Marcos likewise distributed additional agricultural assistance to local farmers.
“Ngayon, sa agrikultura, ang kailangan niyong gawin, ang kailangang gawin ng pamahalaan ay pagandahin ang produksyon, pagandahin ang ani at tulungan ang pag-process ng mga produkto ng agrikultura. Iyon ang isang panig doon sa problema na ‘yan,” Marcos said in his speech.
(What you need to do, what the government needs to do is to improve production, improve the harvest and help process agricultural products.)
The distributed rice was part of the P42 million smuggled rice from Zamboanga. Marcos reiterated that the government was doubling down on smugglers and hoarders of agricultural products.
“Kailangan din namin na higpitan ang pagbantay sa illegal na importation ng lahat ng agri-products kaya’t ‘yan ang aming ginawa at binigyan ko ng instruction ang Bureau of Customs at sabi ko sa kanila imbestigahan niyo nang mabuti at hanapin ninyo ang mga illegal importers, ang mga smuggler ng bigas,” the President added.
(We need to tighten operations against illegally imported agricultural products, which is why I instructed the Bureau of Customs to investigate such cases properly, and confiscate any illegally smuggled goods.)