MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives approved on Wednesday on its third and final reading House Bill No. 9284, which aims to strengthen the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act of 2016, shortly after receiving its certification as urgent from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
The House, taking up the bill past 12:30 a.m. on Wednesday, approved it with 289 lawmakers voting in the affirmative, with nobody voting in the negative or abstaining.
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Marcos’ certification allowed the House to tackle the bil in a little over 24 hours after it was passed on second reading.
The bill would amend the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act to include fishery and tobacco products. It also proposed harsher penalties.