Smuggled fish
THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) would do well to donate to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) smuggled fish for distribution to typhoon victims.
The DSWD has already requested the BOC, headed by Commissioner Bienvenido Y. Rubio, to release confiscated smuggled frozen mackerel worth more than P178.5 million.
The Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) said the frozen fish “is fit for human consumption.”
This after the DA-BFAR National Fisheries Laboratory Division conducted laboratory tests on the frozen mackerel.
In his November 18 letter to Commissioner Rubio, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel said the seized fish can be utilized to address food security needs.
Loaded in 21 container vans, the 580 metric tons of frozen mackerel that came from China arrived in the country early October.
The BOC seized the shipment after the importer failed to produce the required sanitary and phytosanitary import clearances.
Various quarters lauded the BOC for asking the agriculture department to donate the smuggled fish for distribution to typhoon victims.
Many of the victims of the recent string of powerful typhoons and storms that hit the country are still housed in evacuation centers.
“Talagang makatutulong sa relief efforts ng gobyerno kung ang mga kumpiskadong pagkain at iba pang produkto ay ido-donate ng BOC sa DSWD,” a typhoon victim said.
It’s a move in the right direction.
