Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. on Friday inspected over a dozen container vans at the Port of Manila, carrying frozen fish identified by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for potential donation to communities affected by recent tropical cyclones and other natural disasters. Tests showed the fist are fit for human consumption.
“President Marcos wants these smuggled fish turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development so they end up on the plates of suffering Filipinos who need them the most,” Secretary Tiu Laurel said.
According to Department of Agriculture-Inspectorate and Enforcement (DA-IE) records, 19 container vans loaded with frozen fish are currently held at the Port of Manila, while five more were seized at the Port of Subic. DA-IE is led by undersecretary Carlos Carag, who also serves as the department’s Alternate Representative to the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Council.
With each container carrying approximately 30 metric tons of frozen fish, the total seizure could amount to 720 metric tons—or 720,000 kilos—enough to distribute at least a kilo of fish to more than 700,000 families.
The DA-IE has flagged several additional suspicious shipments and requested that the Bureau of Customs hold their release pending inspection by the relevant agencies, including the Bureau of Plant Industry, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, and the Bureau of Animal Industry.
President Marcos has directed regulatory agencies, particularly the Department of Agriculture, to intensify the crackdown on agricultural smuggling—not only to protect local producers and public health, but also to ensure lawful taxes and duties are properly collected.
“This is more than just enforcement,” Secretary Tiu Laurel said. “It’s protecting the Filipino farmers and fishermen, and ensuring public health.”
