MANILA, Philippines – Hihigpitan ng Department of Agriculture (DA) ang pangangasiwa nito sa mga warehouse bilang pagtugon sa Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act.
Sa kalatas, sinabi ng DA na ipinag-utos nito ang mandatory registration ng mga warehouse, cold storage facilities, at iba pang agricultural logistics hubs sa pamamagitan ng pag-iisyu ng “Guidelines for the Registry System for Agri Storage.”
Sa ilalim ng panuntunan, lahat ng pasilidad na nag-iimbak ng agricultural at fishery products, pagmamay-ari man, nirerentahan o pinatatakbo ng third parties ay obligadong magparehistro sa pamamagitan ng DA Online Registration System.
Sakop ng mandatory registration ang rice warehouses, onion cold storage, meat freezers, grain silos, refrigerated container vans, at agricultural storage tanks na may hawak ng locally sourced at imported products.
Ayon kay Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., ang registry ay “critical tool in dismantling smuggling networks, ensuring food safety and protecting domestic producers.”
“Registration gives the government clear visibility over the supply chain so we can move quickly against hoarding, illegal imports and abusive practices that undermine Filipino producers and harm consumers,” dagdag pa ni Tiu-Laurel.
Sinabi ng DA na sa pinakabagong polisiya ay nagbibigay ng ngipin sa Section 6 ng Republic Act 12022 o Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act, na nag-oobliga sa agri-fishery businesses na panatilihing kumpleto, sakto at auditable ang mga rekord nito sa nakalipas na limang taon.
Inaatasan din ng kautusan ang facility operators na ipaalam sa ahensya ang storage capacity, commodities handled at inventory levels, magpanatili ng monthly operational records at magpasa ng quarterly electronic reports sa pamamagitan ng trade regulatory agencies.
Inilalathala rin dito ang malinaw na mga paglabag at sanction.
Ang bigo o pagtangging maglabas ng kaukulang dokumento o rekord ay ikinokonsiderang paglabag sa batas, ayon pa sa DA.
Kasama rin sa mga posibleng paglabag ang hindi pagpresenta ng updated operational reports, manipulasyon, o pagtatago ng mahahalagang impormasyon.
“Subject to due process, licenses, registrations and accreditations may be suspended, revoked or cancelled by the appropriate trade regulatory agencies, with preventive suspension allowed in cases involving imminent public danger.”
Ang unified digital registry anang DA ay naka-disenyo para palakasin ang traceability, mapabuti ang food safety oversight, at lumikha ng reliable data para matukoy ang unusual stock accumulation na kadalasang nagdudulot ng price manipulation at artificial shortages.
Nilinaw ng ahensya na hindi pinapalitan ng registration ang licensing o accreditation, na nananatiling exclusive mandate ng regulators ng Bureau of Plant Industry, Bureau of Animal Industry, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, National Meat Inspection Service, Sugar Regulatory Administration, at National Tobacco Administration.
“Micro scale operators, including sari-sari stores, wet market vendors, home-based family enterprises, itinerant peddlers, and certified barangay micro businesses with assets below three million pesos, are exempt under the law’s social justice provisions,” sinabi pa ng DA.
“For medium and large operators, the signal is unmistakable. Registration is now mandatory, enforcement is data driven, and opacity in agricultural storage is becoming a legal and commercial liability,” dagdag pa. RNT/JGC
