Mga panukala vs agri-smuggling, agad aaprubahan – Speaker Romualdez

Tiniyak ni House Speaker Martin Romualdez ang agarang pag-apruba sa mga panukala na makatutulong sa kampanya ng gobyerno laban sa smuggling lalo na sa mga produktong pang-agrikultura tulad ng sibuyas.

Ang panukalang Ant-Agricultural Smuggling Act ay isa sa mga panukala na nais ni Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. na agad maisabatas at napagkasunduan na bibigyang-prayoridad sa nakaraang pagpupulong ng Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC).

“As soon as the start of the 2nd Regular Session of the 19th Congress, we will immediately buckle down to work for the passage of the proposed amendments to the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act,” ani Speaker Romualdez.

Sa pagpupulong ng LEDAC noong Miyerkules, ika-5 ng Hulyo 2023, napagkasunduan na gagawing prayoridad ng Kamara at Senado ang pagpasa sa 20 panukalang batas bago matapos ang taon.

“The inclusion of this measure among the LEDAC priority legislation manifests the commitment of Congress to support Pres. Marcos’ drive against unfair business practices that hurt consumers and local farmers alike, but also derail the administration’s efforts to attain food security,” sabi ni Romualdez.

Nauna rito, inatasan ni Pangulong Marcos ang National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) at Department of Justice (DOJ) na habulin ang mga smuggler ng sibuyas at iba pang agricultural products at sundan ang resulta ng imbestigasyong ginawa ng House Committee on Agriculture and Food.

Sa pagdinig ng naturang komite noong Mayo, tinukoy ni Marikina 2nd District Rep. Stella Luz Quimbo ang kartel na binubuo ng iba’t ibang kompanya na siya umanong komukontrol sa suplay ng sibuyas kaya tumaas ang presyo nito noong 2022.

Ang iba pang panukala na napagkasunduang aaprubahan ay ang pag-amyenda sa BOT Law/PPP bill, National Disease Prevention Management Authority, Internet Transactions Act/E-Commerce Law, Health Emergency Auxillary Reinforcement Team (Heart) Act, Virology Institute of the Philippines, Mandatory ROTC and NSTP, pagbuhay sa Salt Industry, Valuation Reform, E-Government/E-Governance, at Ease of Paying Taxes.

Kasama rin dito ang National Government Rightsizing Program, Unified System of Separation/Retirement and Pension of MUPs, LGU Income Classification, Waste-to-Energy Bill, New Philippine Passport Act, Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers, National Employment Action Plan, Bank Deposit Secrecy, at Anti-Financial Account Scamming Act (AFASA).