Nangako si Agriculture Secretary William Dar nitong weekend na paiigtingin niya ang pagsisikap na alisin ang katiwalian sa loob ng Department of Agriculture (DA), at sinabing hindi siya magdadalawang-isip na “ilagay ang ulo sa chopping block” ng mga mapapatunayan na sangkot sa smuggling ng mga produktong agri-fishery.
“We strongly condemn smuggling, which deprives our farmers and fishers of their incomes and livelihood,” ayon kay Secretary Dar hinggil sa imbestigasyon na isinasagawa 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 niya.
Sinabi ni Dar na ang DA ay nakipag tulungan at patuloy na nakikipag tulungan sa Bureau of Customs (BOC) at iba pang katuwang na ahensya sa Sub-Task Group on Economic Intelligence (STG-EI) sa pagbabantay at pagpapalakas ng mga pagsisikap sa pangangalaga sa mga border; at kasabay nito ay nagbibigay ng kinakailangang suporta sa logistik at imprastraktura para sa mga lokal na producer.
“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. 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,” ayon sa hepe ng DA.
Nanawagan din si Dar sa mga mambabatas na magbigay ng suporta sa badyet na magpapahintulot sa BOC at DA na lumipat sa isang sentralisadong digital system upang labanan 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. If everything is automated, and there’s less human intervention, there is transparency at all levels of transactions,” ayon sa kanya.
Carlo Juancho FuntanillaFrontend Developer, WordPress, Shopify
Contributing Editor
AMA ACLC San Pablo
