Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan vowed to back funding for the Bureau of Customs’ (BOC) dedicated condemnation facility and the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) first border inspection sites in the 2027 budget, emphasizing the critical role these investments play in protecting the country’s domestic food production and supply, public health, and agricultural biosecurity.
The veteran lawmaker made the commitment during a joint inspection with the DA, the BOC, and the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) at the Manila International Container Port (MICP) on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, where authorities flagged 26 abandoned containers holding 650,000 kilograms of imported onions valued at no less than ₱86.7 million. The unclaimed shipments exposed regulatory gaps that the senator is moving to close.
Without a dedicated condemnation facility, the BOC relies on private contractors for condemnation proceedings, creating opportunities for condemned goods to be illegally diverted and sold.
The senator, who chairs the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food, and Agrarian Reform, vowed to fight for the necessary allocations and expand the DA’s border inspection capacity alongside it.
“Makakaasa kayo, Commissioner, na sa 2027 budget, ilalaban natin yan. At dadagdagan pa natin din yung first border inspection facilities ng DA,” he said.
This was after BOC Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno admitted that the bureau has no dedicated facility to destroy seized contraband, leaving operations exposed to illicit diversion.
But Pangilinan’s commitment comes with a clear condition, citing a prior hearing where condemned meat was allegedly diverted and sold as fish feed.
“Hindi ko papaapruba ang budget ng DA (Department of Agriculture) at ng PSA (Philippine Statistics Authority) kung wala silang sistema na ma-re-reconcile nila yung kanilang supply numbers,” the senator said, referring to the budget deliberations later this year.
Despite the gaps, the senator acknowledged meaningful progress in enforcement, noting a significant increase in proper agricultural declarations and tariff collections under recent BOC operations.
“Congratulations sa ganoong usapin. Ibig sabihin talagang nagbabayad na itong nagpapasok ng kanilang goods,” he said.