Press Release
January 18, 2014

Villar sets hearing on rice smuggling

Sen. Cynthia Villar, chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food, today said the committee will take the lead in looking into reports that serious rice smuggling continues to pervade the country.

"We intend to continue our inquiry into rice smuggling, especially in the light of reports of payoffs involving Customs officials and the identification of alleged smugglers," Villar said. The hearing is set to be held next week, January 22, 10 am at the Senate Session Hall.

Among the invited guests are Agriculture Sec. Proceso Alcala, Finance Sec. Cesar Purisima, Trade Sec. Gregory Domingo, Justice Sec. Leila de Lima, Customs Commissioner John Philip Sevilla, Ombudsman Conchita Morales, National Food Authority (NFA) Adm. Orlan Calayag, Securities and Exchange Commission Chairperson Teresita Herbosa, Davidson Tan Bangayan and other stakeholders in the rice trading industry.

"Smuggling is one of the reasons why many of our farmers continue to live in poverty. The illegal entry of rice threatens their livelihood and the welfare of two-thirds of our population who depend on agriculture," Villar said.

The committee will also check the implementation of committee recommendations under Committee Report 763 during the 15th Congress on the matter of rice smuggling at the Subic Bay Free Port Zone and Port of Legazpi, Albay and the NFA-Private Sector Financed Importation Program.

Villar said that in the November 18, 2013 hearing attended by Secretary Alcala and then Customs Chief Ruffy Biazon, they agreed to make the importation process transparent by making available to the public importation documents of shipments before reaching Philippine ports.

"In drafting the importation guidelines of agriculture products, we also agreed to consult all stakeholders," Villar said.

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