In line with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s directive to intensify the enforcement of the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act, the Bureau of Customs Port of Manila (BOC-POM) seized over ₱34 million worth of misdeclared agricultural products.

To underscore the agency’s heightened enforcement efforts, Assistant Commissioner Atty. Vincent Philip C. Maronilla, Deputy Commissioner Michael C. Fermin, POM District Collector Alexander Gerard E. Alviar, together with Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr., inspected the seized goods on July 1, 2025, with the participation of the Department of Health and the Food and Drug Administration.

The shipments from China, which arrived on May 27 and June 1, 2025, were declared as assorted food items such as mantou, egg noodles, and kimchi. Upon issuance of alert orders and conduct of a physical inspection on June 10, the containers were found to contain red onions, white onions, and frozen mackerel, with an estimated value of ₱34,203,504.38.

Based on price monitoring by the DA, the estimated fair market values were ₱10.2 million for red onions, ₱3.8 million for white onions, and ₱20.08 million for frozen mackerel.

On June 23, 2025, a Warrant of Seizure and Detention (WSD) was issued for the goods due to misdeclaration and lack of the necessary import permits, which constitute violations of Section 117 in relation to Section 1113 of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA). These provisions authorize the seizure and forfeiture of improperly imported items.

District Collector Alviar expressed his support for the continued vigilance of the Port of Manila, saying, “This operation reflects our strong commitment to protecting the local industry and ensuring that our port remains a frontline defense against agricultural smuggling.”

The BOC remains steadfast in its mission to secure the country’s borders, ensuring that only legitimate and properly declared goods enter the country, protecting our farmers and upholding fair trade for the benefit of the Filipino people.