Recently it was discovered in Las Piñas City that the illicit sale of P3.5 million worth of unregistered fertilizer and pesticide took place and already the Department of Agriculture (DA) supports legal action against those who were involved, according to a Philippine News Agency (PNA) news article. The local authorities successfully pulled off an entrapment operation at a Las Piñas City warehouse.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the PNA news article. Some parts in boldface…
The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Tuesday backed the legal action against those involved in the illicit sale of PHP3.5 million worth of unregistered fertilizers and pesticides in Las Piñas City.
The Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) and the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) nabbed four individuals for the illegal sale of unlicensed agricultural chemicals in an entrapment operation at a warehouse in Las Piñas City on May 30.
In a news release, DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. supported the recommendation of the Las Piñas City prosecutor to file charges for violation of the Fertilizer and Pesticides Act.
“We welcome this decisive action by the Las Piñas City prosecutor to pursue charges against individuals whose illegal activities not only harm our farmers and agricultural productivity but also undermine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s vision of a food-secure Philippines,” he said.
The four respondents, who posed as representatives of WLEX Co. Philippines Inc., will face charges for violation of Section 8(a) and 9 of Presidential Decree No. 1144, which both prohibits the “production, importation, distribution, storage, and sale” of unlicensed agricultural inputs, fertilizers, and pesticides, according to the inquest resolution.
FPA Executive Director Glenn Estrada warned individuals involved in agricultural smuggling that it will intensify its actions against illicit trade.
“We cannot allow unscrupulous traders to shortchange our farmers by selling substandard products that compromise their ability to increase yields,” he said.
In an earlier report, the DA said the entrapment operation resulted in the seizure of 641 one-liter bottles of Axonic pesticide, 748 one-liter bottles of Sapphire pesticide, 220 one-liter bottles of Chlonil pesticide, four sacks of Welzeb, and bio-stimulant Nutrinaro SC, with multiple variants of 5,590 sachets (10g), 345 sachets (50g), and 90 sachets (5g).
The Axonic, Sapphire, Chlonil, and Welzeb brands are unregistered and illegal, according to the FPA.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a resident of Las Piñas City, what is your reaction to this development? What do you hope the incoming Mayor will do for the members of your local community once she takes office? What kind of service do you want to see from the City Government over the next three years?
You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.
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