Tungawan, Zamboanga Sibugay
September 19, 2023
“Kailangan sapat ang pagkain para sa ating mga kababayan. Kasama diyan ay pinapatibay natin ang sistema ng ating agrikultura. Ngunit hindi lamang ‘yan ang nagiging problema sa agrikultura dito sa Pilipinas. Ang isang problema ay ang pagsmuggle ng bigas papasok ng Pilipinas,” President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. stressed in urging concerned government agencies to strengthen their efforts in preventing hoarders and illegal importers of rice in the country.
The President made these remarks during the distribution of confiscated smuggled rice to beneficiaries in Zamboanga Sibugay, where he assured Filipinos of the Administration’s commitment to ensure that prices of basic food commodities remain stable.
“Kaya naman, hindi lang ang pag-ayos ng agricultural sector ang ating kailangang gawin. Kailagan din nating pagtibayin ang ating pag-enforce ng ating mga batas, tungkol nga sa pagbigay ng suplay ng bigas sa buong Pilipinas,” he conveyed.
“Iyan po ang patuloy nating pag-aasikaso para tignan natin na maganda ang pagtakbo ng merkado sa bigas, dahil alam naman natin gaano kahalaga ang suplay ng bigas sa magandang presyo para sa lahat ng Pilipino,” he added.
The rice distributed in Zamboanga Sibugay is part of the 42,180 smuggled sacks of rice worth PhP42 million forfeited by the Bureau of Customs-Port of Zamboanga (BOC-POZ) during its warehouse raid in Barangay San Jose Gusu, Zamboanga City on September 15, 2023. In accordance with the law, these confiscated rice will be donated to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for distribution to its beneficiaries in the Region.
The Chief Executive also encouraged the local government units (LGUs) to continue doing its part in enforcing the laws and monitoring activities that will prevent the manipulation of prices in the market.
“Kaya naman po ay tinitiyak natin na hindi ginagawa na pinaglalaruan ang presyo ng bigas na mga iilan diyan na pinahihirapan ang taong bayan para lang sila kumita nang malaki,” President Marcos said.
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