On 16 December 2024, the Bureau of Customs (BOC), in coordination with the Department of Agriculture (DA), inspected nine warehouses in Bocaue and Balagtas, Bulacan, which were found storing an estimated PhP661 million worth of suspected smuggled rice.

The operation was initiated following derogatory information alleging that the warehouses were harboring imported rice without proof of payment of the correct duties and taxes owed to the government.

To validate these reports, a composite team consisting of personnel from the Manila International Container Port-Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (MICP-CIIS), the Enforcement and Security Service (ESS), and the DA-Inspectorate and Enforcement (DAIE), supported by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), the Philippine National Police (PNP), and barangay officials, conducted the inspections. During the operation, approximately 249,500 sacks of rice were uncovered.

To ensure fairness and due process, a dialogue with the rice warehouse owners was held on 18 December 2024. The session, facilitated by BOC Commissioner Bienvenido Y. Rubio and DA Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr., and attended by members of the House of Representatives, allowed warehouse owners to explain their side and submit documentation to prove the legitimacy of their operations.

During the dialogue, Commissioner Rubio explained that the issuance of Letters of Authority (LOA) is part of the Bureau’s mandate to inspect and visit premises suspected of harboring smuggled goods. The LOA authorizes customs officers to demand evidence of payment of duties and taxes on imported goods openly for sale or kept in storage, as provided under Section 224 of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA).

To mitigate the possible impact of the inspections on the supply and affordability of rice, the BOC, supported by the DA, allowed the warehouse owners to continue their operations under strict oversight. This measure ensures that rice supplies remain uninterrupted and accessible to all Filipinos, particularly during the holiday season. Congressman Erwin Tulfo also called on warehouse owners to help address the rising rice prices in local markets by extending support to consumers.

Warehouse owners have been given a 15-day period to submit proof of correct duty and tax payments. Should they fail to comply, the BOC will enforce appropriate actions as mandated by customs regulations.

This joint effort underscores the BOC and DA’s commitment to regulating and safeguarding the flow of agricultural products into the country. It also aligns with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to intensify measures against agricultural smuggling. This follows the recent forfeiture and donation of PhP178 million worth of frozen mackerel on 14 December 2024.

Other notable attendees during the dialogue included Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales, Jr., representing House Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez; Deputy Speaker David Suarez; Rep. Janette Garin; Rep. Mark Enverga; Rep. Horacio Suansing, Jr.; and Rep. Erwin Tulfo.

These coordinated efforts demonstrate the government’s resolve to combat agricultural smuggling while ensuring that essential commodities like rice remain available and affordable for all Filipinos.

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