DA's Panganiban on corruption in agriculture sector: ‘Napakalaking issue’

Department of Agriculture (DA) Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban said corruption was a major issue in the agriculture sector as it involves several officials and the private sector.

Panganiban said that the involved personnel would face charges from the legal department of the DA if proven to be true.

“Napakalaking issue, maraming opisyal ng DA ang involved including the private sector na hopefully we shall remove them. And they will probably take the cudgels from the legal department of the DA if cases filed against them,” he said at The Mangahas Interviews.

Asked if the department had a list or process of inventory to catch smugglers, Panganiban said they needed to evaluate these actions.

“Mayroon na, it will be a long process kung nasabing corruption dito sa ganito. We need to evaluate and institute yung actions,” he added.

Panganiban earlier said that there were problems that needed to be addressed in the country's anti-smuggling measures amid reports of DA authorities allegedly overlooking the entry of smuggled goods. 

Senator JV Ejercito said he wants oversight on the implementation of the Sugarcane Industry Development Act (SIDA) and the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act revived as he was was frustrated over the country's overdependence on importation. — Richa Allyssa Noriega/DVM, GMA News