AGRI Party-list Rep. Manoy Wilbert Lee stressed that the government should tighten the implementation of the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Law to safeguard the livelihood of farmers, fisherfolk and local food producers and achieve food security, as he renewed his call to harmonize the House and Senate versions of the proposed Blue Economy Act.
Lee issued the call after the recent report that P202-M worth of frozen mackerel allegedly smuggled from China was confiscated by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and Department of Agriculture (DA) at the Port of Manila.
“Natutuwa tayo sa mga balitang may nasasabat na mga smuggled agri products, at na kakasuhan ang mga nasa likod nito. Pero nababahala tayo na kahit may naipasa na tayong batas kung saan pinabigat na ang parusa sa mga agri smugglers, hoarders, price manipulators at kartel, ay marami pa rin ang naghahasik ng lagim sa kabuhayan ng ating mga kababayan,” the Bicolano lawmaker said.
“Kailangan dito ng mas mahigpit at epektibong implementasyon ng batas. Dapat iparamdam sa mga demonyong ito ang ngipin ng ating batas at may maipakulong na, dahil hindi titigil ang mga kriminal na ito sa pag-abuso hangga’t walang nasasampolan sa kanila,” he added.
AGRI Party-list, which is running for reelection in the 2025 National and Local Elections, is the principal author of Republic Act (RA) No. 10845 or the “Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act of 2016” and its amended version, RA 12022 or the “Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act.”
AGRI then urged both chambers of Congress to immediately convene the bicameral conference committee and finalize the provisions of the House and Senate versions of the Blue Economy Act.
“Blue economy” refers to a practical ocean-based economic model using green infrastructure and technologies and innovative financing mechanisms to achieve the twin goals of protecting our oceans and exclusive economic zones such as the West Philippine Sea and enhancing its contribution to sustainable livelihood and development of fishing communities.
“As an archipelagic country, this measure would greatly contribute to increasing fish production and income of fisherfolk, expanding livelihood opportunities and achieving cheaper food prices and food security goals,” AGRI, principal author of the said measure, said.
“Ang dagdag na oportunidad, maunlad na kabuhayan ng mga mangingisda at murang pagkain ay posibleng-posible dahil sa yaman ng ating karagaran. Blue Economy Act, ipatupad na!” the party-list added.
The House passed its version of the Blue Economy Act (House Bill No. 9662) on third reading on December 2023 while the Senate version passed Senate Bill 2450 on third and final reading on August last year.