PRESIDENT Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said on Friday, September 22, 2023, that his administration is working to shorten the 15-day period for importers to prove their legitimacy and the authenticity of their products.
During the distribution of smuggled rice in General Trias in Cavite, Marcos said he wanted to cut down the said period to only seven days.
“Kaya nag-antay lang kami dahil bago mo huhulihin, nasa batas, kailangan ‘yung importer ay mag — kailangan patunayan within 15 days na legal ‘yung kanilang inimport (import). Kaya’t medyo natagalan dahil inantay pa natin ‘yung 15 days,” he said in his speech.
(So, we just waited because before you can apprehend, it's in the law, the importer needs to - they need to prove within 15 days that what they imported is legal. That's why it took a while because we waited for the 15 days.)
“At sinusubukan natin ngayon bawasan ‘yung 15 days into seven days. Dahil kung legal ka na importer, hawak mo lahat ng dokumento. Pag hinanap sa iyo ‘yan, bibigay niyo kaagad. So, bakit pa 15 days? Sabi ko, baka kung anong mangyari diyan, mailulusot pa nila ‘yan. Kaya’t sabi ko, gawin natin ang lahat para makuha na ng pamahalaan, makuha na ng Bureau of Customs (BOC),” he added.
(And now, we are trying to reduce the 15 days to seven days. Because if you're a legitimate importer, you have all the documents in your possession. If they ask you for those, you'll provide them right away. So, why wait for 15 days? I said, maybe something could happen during that time, and they might get away with it. That's why I said, let's do everything we can so that the government can recover it, so that the Bureau of Customs can recover it.)
The rice distributed during the event to 1,400 beneficiaries, including farmers and Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) families, were part of the 42,180 sacks confiscated by the BOC Port of Zamboanga, which were subsequently donated to the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
Each beneficiary received 25 kilos of rice along with various agricultural assistance.
Marcos vowed to find more ways to improve the lives of the farmers by helping them increase their productivity, further capacitate the farmer groups on rice processing and strengthen efforts to run after illegal hoarders and smugglers of agricultural products.
He also mentioned the new buying price range imposed for buying palay from local farmers, which would help farmers earn more from their products.
The Department of Agriculture, which is currently led by Marcos, will also be distributing bio-fertilizers to farmer cooperatives and associations in lieu of the more expensive urea fertilizers.
Marcos also reiterated his commitment to explore means to help the communities and ensure that no one gets left behind in the country’s bid for progress and development.
“At asahan po ninyo kung ano man ang mangyari pa, asahan po ninyo na gagawin po ng inyong pamahalaan lahat ng kailangang gawin upang hindi naman kayo maiwanan, upang hindi naman kayo mahirapan at lahat po ng kayang gawin ng pamahalaan ay gagawin namin. Iyan po ay aming trabaho kaya po tayo nandito para tulungan kayo,” he said.
(And rest assured, whatever may happen, you can expect that your government will do everything necessary so that you won't be left behind, so that you won't face difficulties, and we will do everything within the government's capability. That is our job, and that's why we are here to help you.) (SunStar Philippines)