ON Tuesday, President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. Handed out 1,500 bags of rice to the beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) in Zamboanga City as well as in Tungawan, Zamboanga Sibugay.
This is amid President Marcos visit to the National Food Authority (NFA)-Region IX warehouse in Zamboanga City on Tuesday, September 19, 2023.
“I just inspected and really looked at what is happening not only in the NCR, in manila but also here in Zamboanga, at the other end of the Philippines, so that we can see that all our fellow citizens are being supported. Anyone in need will receive help,” President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., said.
In his speech, President Marcos said that the rice he distributed was part of 42,180 smuggled bags of rice worth P42-M.
It was confiscated by the Bureau of Customs-Port of Zamboanga (BOC-POZ) after the agency raided the warehouse in Brgy. San Jose Gusu, Zamboanga City on September 15, 2023.
President Marcos praised the BOC for successfully seizing more than 42,000 sacks of rice.
Meanwhile, President Marcos assured that the government and his administration are working tirelessly to end smuggling, which has affected the country’s agricultural sector.
The President said he had instructed the BOC to further intensify the campaign against smugglers to put an end to their illegal operations.
The Chief executive maintained that the government followed due process in confiscating smuggled items by giving the respondents a 15-day notice to hear their side.
“We created a process. Under the said process, the person was asked to explain, where did that come from? Where did you pay tariffs? Where did you pay your taxes? Where are the necessary documents? 15 days had passed. They failed to answer. So we took it. The government took it. The customs forfeited it and donated to the DSWD, and the DSWD and the government donated it to you,” President Marcos, added.
Dswd Secretary Rex Gatchalian was also present at the rice distribution in Zamboanga, along with officials from the Department of Agriculture (DA), NFA, and BOC.
President Marcos also led the distribution of various assistance from the DA, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), and Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to the intended beneficiaries in Zamboanga.
