THE Department of Agriculture (DA) seized a total of P202.5 million worth of smuggled agri-fishery products in January 2023.
The seizure was part of the government’s bid to safeguard the welfare of Filipino farmers and fishers and make locally grown agricultural produce more competitive, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said on Tuesday, February 14, 2023.
The PCO said the smuggled products were recovered from 24 container vans during separate operations at the Manila International Container Port.
It said nine container vans were consigned to Seaster Consumer Goods. They contain P77.8 million worth of fresh red and white onions.
The others belonged to Asterzenmen Inc., which yielded fresh yellow onions, red onions, potatoes and roasted sweet potatoes with an estimated market value of P24.4 million; red onions, imitation crab stick, and frozen boneless beef value at P31 million; P45.5 million worth of red onions and assorted meat products; and potatoes and fresh yellow onions totaling to P23.6 million.
“The misdeclared and misclassified goods in January 2023, totaling P202.5 million, were seized through the combined efforts of the DA Inspectorate and Enforcement, together with partner agencies including the Philippine Coast Guard, Bureau of Customs, Bureau of Plant Industry, Bureau of Animal Industry, and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources,” the PCO said.
“It was also revealed that the goods, which originated from Hong Kong, China, have no Sanitary and Phytosanitary Import Clearance,” it added. (SunStar Philippines)