(Sa agri-fishery smuggling) MAY ULONG GUGULONG

NANGAKO si Agriculture Secretary William Dar na paiigtingin ang pagsisikap na burahin ang korupsiyon sa loob ng Department of Agriculture (DA), at sinabing hindi siya mangingiming sibakin ang mga sangkot sa smuggling ng agri-fishery products.

“We strongly condemn smuggling, which deprives our farmers and fishers of their incomes and livelihood,” pahayag ni Secretary Dar sa gitna ng imbestigasyon ng Senate Committee of the Whole.

“Smuggling is a systemic problem. That’s why we have been consistent in warning any official or staff of our ‘OneDA Family’ who cudgel smugglers. We will not hesitate to file administrative charges against them. We will act swiftly and decisively against those involved among our ranks, whether rank-and-file employees or high-ranking officials,” dagdag pa ng kalihim.

Aniya, ang DA ay patuloy na nakikipag-ugnayan sa Bureau of Customs (BOC) at sa iba pang partner agencies sa Sub-Task Group on Economic Intelligence (STG-EI) sa pagbabantay at pagpapalakas ng border protection; at kasabay nito ay nagkakaloob ng kinakailangang logistics at infrastructure support para sa local producers.

“Admittedly, there’s a need for us to further strengthen our integrated regulatory enforcement unit such as the STG-EI and the country’s first border protection,” anang DA chief.

“While we continue to be vigilant against illegal activities and smuggling of agri-fishery products, these efforts will remain palliative if our border controls will remain flimsy,” dagdag pa niya.

Nanawagan din si Dar sa mga mambabatas na magkaloob ng budgetary support na magbibigay-daan para makalipat ang BOC at DA sa isang centralized digital system para malabanan ang smuggling.

“A centralized digital system, which we have been advocating as one of the pillars of our ‘OneDA’ Reform Agenda, would address discrepancies in data,” sabi ni Dar.

“If everything is automated, and there’s less human intervention, there is transparency at all levels of transactions.”