Tatay Freddie’s family has been planting tobacco in the Province of La Union since 1975.

The earnings are high, but sometimes they lose due to damage caused by army worms or pests in their crops.  

But now, pests are not their only problem, the entry of smuggled tobacco products adds to their woes.

“We sprayed, sir, but they couldn’t kill it,” says Freddie Samorano, tobacco farmer.

According to the Bureau of Customs, from January to August this year,  they seized 50 billion pesos worth of smuggled products, and 1 billion of which are tobacco products.

These are just some of the attacks on agricultural products addressed by the Anti-agricultural Economic Sabotage Act. 

Under this bill, smuggling and hoarding of products valued at 10 million pesos are considered economic sabotage.  

“Yes, that’s right, especially with the agents, they pass the products along until they reach Manila. Someone should be made an example,” said Senator Lito Lapid.

On September 26, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed the Anti-agricultural Economic Sabotage Act, which was also championed by Senator Lito Lapid.  

In this law, violators will face a minimum of 12 years in prison and a fine three times the value of the smuggled products.  

Meanwhile, Senator Lito Lapid visited Tublay in Benguet where he distributed 5,000 pesos in financial assistance to residents of eight barangays in the town, in partnership with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). 

Students were among the beneficiaries.  

“I’ll continue my programs. We will work together on this,” Lapid promised.

**JOSE ROBERT INVENTOR