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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO.__________ 
_____________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by Hon. Julienne L. Baronda  
_____________________________________________________________________ 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Philippines is primarily an agricultural country. In fact, about a quarter of our employed 
kababayans work in the agricultural sector. Unfortunately, however, large scale smuggling of 
goods continues to hound what an otherwise vibrant sector. Just last year, a group of farmers 
cried for help when they lamented the continuous and worsening agricultural smuggling in 
the country despite the existence of a law punishing it and the creation of the anti-smuggling 
task force. 
Statistics would not lie. 
Between 2019 and 2022 alone, the DA estimates P667.5 million ($11.64 million) of 
smuggled agri-fishery goods, while a total of 542 seizure cases were conducted by the Bureau 
of Customs. While a number of smugglers were apprehended, the continued and incessant 
rise in smuggling cases cannot be taken for granted.  
Considering these asseverations, there is a need to re-assess our laws to ensure that the same 
remain foolproof so that our farmers are protected. Even the slightest hint of corruption or 
smuggling attempt by anyone should be punished. 
The impact that the agricultural sector to the country’s development cannot be 
overemphasized. Article XIII, Section 5, of the 1987 Constitution provides that: 
“The State shall recognize the right of farmers, farmworkers, and 
landowners, as well as cooperatives, and other independent farmers’ 
organizations to participate in the planning, organization, and management of 
the program, and shall provide support to agriculture through appropriate 
technology and research, and adequate financial, production, marketing, and 
other support services.” 
Proceeding from this Constitutional mandate, it is the intention of this bill to align Republic 
Act No. 10845 with the realities happening on the ground and hopefully, make it more in 
tune with the present times. 
February 17, 2023
8:00 am
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In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
          Rep. Julienne “Jam” L. Baronda 
District Representative 


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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO.__________ 
_____________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by Hon. Julienne L. Baronda  
_____________________________________________________________________ 
AN ACT 
AMENDING 
CERTAIN 
PROVISIONS 
OF 
REPUBLIC 
ACT 
NO. 
10845, 
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE ANTI-AGRICULTURAL SMUGGLING ACT OF 
2016, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines, in Congress 
assembled:  
SECTION 1. The title of Republic Act No. 10845 is hereby amended to read as: 
AN ACT DECLARING LARGE-SCALE AGRICULTURAL SMUGGLING, HOARDING, 
PROFITEERING, CARTEL, AND OTHER ACTS OF MARKET ABUSES AS 
ECONOMIC SABOTAGE, PRESCRIBING PENALTIES THEREFORE AND FOR OTHER 
PURPOSES 
Sec. 2. Section 1 of Republic Act no. 10845 is hereby amended to read as: 
This Act shall be known as the “Anti-Agricultural [Smuggling] ECONOMIC SABOTAGE  
Act of 2023.  
Sec. 3. Section 2 of Republic Act No. 10845 is hereby amended to read as: 
Section 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is the policy of the State to 
promote the productivity of the agriculture sector and to protect farmers from 
unscrupulous traders and importers, who by their illegal importation of 
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agricultural products, especially rice, significantly affect the production, 
availability of supply and stability of process and food security of the State.  
 
 FURTHERMORE, IT IS ALSO THE POLICY OF THE STATE TO 
PROMOTE 
THE 
AFFORDABILITY 
OF 
FOOD 
AND 
OTHER 
AGRICULTURAL COMMODITIES FOR FILIPINO CONSUMERS BY 
PREVENTING LARGE-SCALE ABUSE OF MARKET POWER, 
HOARDING AND OTHER PRACTICES TO MANIPULATE PRICES 
AND UNDULY RESTRAIN SUPPLY.  
 
 The State shall impose higher sanctions for large-scale smuggling of 
agricultural products AND OTHER ABUSES OF MARKET POWER as self-
preservation measure to shield itself from the manipulative scheme of economic 
saboteurs, and to protect the livelihood of our farmers and to ensure their 
economic well-being AND THAT OF CONSUMERS.  
 
Sec. 4. A new Section 3A shall be inserted after Section 3 of Republic Act. No. 10845 to read 
as: 
 
SEC. 
3-A. 
LARGE-SCALE 
AGRICULTURAL 
HOARDING, 
PROFITEERING, AND CARTEL AS ECONOMIC SABOTAGE. – 
HOARDING, PROFITEERING, OR CARTEL, AS DEFINED IN 
SECTION 5 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7581, INSOFAR AS THEY 
INVOLVE SUGAR, CORN, PORK, POULTRY, GARLIC, ONION, 
CARROTS, FISH AND CRUCIFEROUS VEGETABLES, IN ITS RAW 
STATE, OR WHICH HAVE UNDERGONE THE SIMPLE PROCESSES 
OF PREPARATION OR PRESERVATION FOR THE MARKET, WITH 
A MINIMUM AMOUNT OF ONE MILLION PESOS (P1,000,000.00), OR 
RICE, 
WITH 
A 
MINIMUM 
AMOUNT 
OF 
TEN 
MILLION 
(P10,000,000.00), 
AS 
VALUED 
BY 
THE 
DEPARTMENT 
OF 
AGRICULTURE 
FOR 
DOMESTICALLY 
PRODUCED 
COMMODITIES, SHALL CONSTITUTE ECONOMIC SABOTAGE.  
 


 
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Sec. 5. A new Section 5 shall be inserted after Section 3 of Republic Act. No. 10845 to read 
as: 
 
SEC. 5. THERE IS HEREBY CREATED AN INTER-AGENCY 
COUNCIL 
ON 
ECONOMIC 
INTELLIGENCE, 
HEREINAFTER 
REFERRED TO AS COUNCIL, WHICH IS MANDATED TO ENFORCE 
THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT AND TO PRINCIPALLY COMBAT 
SMUGGLING, 
HOARDING, 
PROFITEERING, 
AND 
CARTEL: 
PROVIDED, THAT, THE TASK FORCE SHALL BE CO-CHAIRED BY 
THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (DA), DEPARTMENT OF 
TRADE AND INDUSTRY (DTI) AND THE BUREAU OF CUSTOMS 
(BOC), AND SHALL INCLUDE AS MEMBERS THE DEPARTMENT 
OF JUSTICE (DOJ), NATIONAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION (NBI), 
DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT (DILG), 
PHILIPPINE 
NATIONAL 
POLICE 
(PNP), 
PHILIPPINE 
COMPETITION 
COMMISSION 
(PCC), 
NATIONAL 
SECURITY 
COUNCIL 
(NSC), 
AND 
NATIONAL 
INTELLIGENCE 
COORDINATING AGENCY (NICA).  
 
Sec. 6. Section 4 of Republic Act. 10845 is hereby amended to read as:  
 
 Section 4. Penalties. -  (a) The penalty of life imprisonment and a fine of twice 
the fair value of smuggled agricultural product OR THE PRODUCT 
SUBJECT TO HOARDING, PROFITEERING, OR CARTEL and the 
aggregate amount of the taxes, duties and other charges avoided shall be 
imposed on any person who commits any of the acts enumerated under Sections 
3 AND 3-A of this Act.  
 
(b) The penalty of imprisonment of not less than seventeen (17) years but not 
more than twenty (20) years, and a fine of twice the fair value of the smuggled, 
PROFITEERED, HOARDED, OR CARTELLED agricultural product and 
the aggregate amount of the taxes, duties and other charges avoided shall be 
imposed on the officers of dummy corporations, non-government organizations, 


 
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associations, cooperatives, or single proprietorships who knowingly sell, lend, 
lease, assign, consent or allow the unauthorized use of their import permits for 
purposes 
of 
smuggling, 
PROFITEERING, 
HOARDING, 
OR 
CARTELLING.  
 
(c) The penalty of imprisonment of not less than fourteen (14) years but not 
more than seventeen (17) years, and a fine of twice the fair value of the 
smuggled, PROFITEERED, HOARDED, OR CARTELLED agricultural 
product and the aggregate amount of the taxes, duties and other charges avoided 
shall be imposed on the following:  
 
XXX 
 (3) The registered owner and lessee of a warehouse, or any property, who 
knowingly stores the smuggled, PROFITEERED, HOARDED, OR 
CARTELLED agricultural product subject to economic sabotage; or 
(4) The registered owner, lessee, president or chief executive officer of the 
private port, fish port, fish landing sites, resorts, and airports who knowingly 
allows the agricultural product to be smuggled into the country, OR TO BE 
HOARDED WITHIN THEIR FACILITIES. 
XXX 
Sec 7. Section 7 of Republic Act No. 10845 is hereby amended to read as: 
Section. 7. Prescription of Crimes. – The crimes punishable under this Act 
shall prescribe in twenty (20) years.  
Sec 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – The Department of Agriculture, Department of 
Trade and Industry and the Bureau of Customs, in consultation with concerned agencies, 
shall promulgate the implementing rules and regulations of this Act within thirty (30) days 
upon its effectivity. 
Sec 9. Separability Clause. – If any portion of this Act is declared unconstitutional or invalid, 
the portions or provisions which are not affected shall continue to be in full force and effect. 


 
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Sec. 10. Repealing Clause. – All laws, decrees, executive issuances, rules and regulations 
inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed and/or modified accordingly. 
Sec. 11. Effectivity Clause. – This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,