SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. '( 3 8 
) 
) 
) 
'13 
JIJL 15 
"0) :47 
INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
, 
As stated in the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) Charter, the sugar 
industry is a major component of the socioeconomic and political structure of the 
country. Sugar provides employment in the countryside, generates revenue to 
municipal and provincial governments, and adds to the foreign currency reserve. 
All of these benefits are endangered by the entry of smuggled sugar into 
the domestic market. Smuggled sugar decreases customs tax collection, 
destabilizes domestic sugar prices, and endangers the domestic sugar industry 
as well as the many sugar planters in the country. 
To strengthen the government's drive to put a stop to sugar smuggling, 
this bill grants the Sugar Regulatory Administration the power to make arrests 
and file charges against sugar smugglers. In addition, this bill requires that all 
seized sugar be placed under the custody of the Sugar Regulatory 
Administration. Furthermore, this bill puts a stop to the reselling of smuggled 
sugar by requiring the dumping of all seized smuggled sugar into the sea 
provided that the dumping site is approved by the Department of Environment 
and Natural Resources and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources to 
ensure that the ecosystem is not unduly disturbed. 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate enactment of this measure is 
earnestly sought. 
GOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
Senator 


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. '( ,3 8 
) 
) 
) 
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'13 
JUL 15 
P') :47 
INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
AN ACT 
STRENGTHENING THE SUGAR REGULATORY ADMINISTRATION AND FOR 
OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Title: - This shall be known as the "Anti-Sugar Smuggling 
Act of 2013". 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy - The State recognizes the danger that 
smuggled sugar poses to the development of our sugar industry. the welfare of 
our sugar planters. and the stability of our domestic sugar markets. Towards this 
end. it is hereby declared as a policy of the State to establish and maintain a 
more responsive system to ensure that our markets are free from illegally 
imported sugar. 
SEC. 
3. 
Broadening 
the 
Scope of the 
Sugar Regulatory 
Administration. -
The Sugar Regulatory Administration is hereby tasked to 
ensure that the domestic sugar market is free from illegally imported or smuggled 
sugar. 
SEC. 4. Strengthening the Sugar Regulatory Administration. - The 
Sugar Regulatory Administration is hereby empowered to prevent and suppress 
the smuggling of sugar through the execution of searches. seizures. and arrests. 
SEC. 5. Custody Over Smuggled Sugar. - All confiscated smuggled 
sugar shall be placed under the custody of the Sugar Regulatory Administration 
within ten (10) days of seizure. 
SEC. 6. Disposition of Smuggled Sugar. - All confiscated smuggled 
sugar shall be immediately dumped into the sea within forty (40) days of seizure; 
Provided. That the dumping site is cleared with the Department of Environment 
and Natural Resources and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources to 
ensure that the dumping does not bring any significant imbalance to the 


concerned ecosystem; Provided further, That the actual dumping is done in the 
presence of representatives from the Department of Environment and Natural 
Resources, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Bureau of Customs, 
sugar industry, and other concemed parties. 
SEC. 7. Penal Provision. - Any person convicted of smuggling or abetting 
the smuggling of sugar shall be imprisoned for a period of not less than fifteen 
(15) years but not more than thirty (30) years, and shall pay a fine of at least 
Php1,000,000. 
SEC. 8. Without Prejudice Clause. - The power to execute searches, 
seizures, and arrests granted the Sugar Regulatory Administration by virtue of 
this act shall be without prejudice to existing laws, decrees, orders, rules and 
regulations granting the Sugar Regulatory Administration such other necessary 
regulatory power and functions. 
SEC. 9. Separability Clause. - If any part, section or provision of this Act 
is held invalid or unconstitutional, other provisions not affected thereby shall 
remain in full force and effect. 
SEC. 10. Repealing Clause. -All laws, decrees, orders, rules and 
regulations or other issuances inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are 
hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly. 
SEC. 11. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,