AGAP party-list Rep. Nicanor Briones, who also represents the SDC, said they are giving Customs Commissioner Rufino Biazon two weeks to act on their concerns.

According to Inquirer News, SDC, along with the Pork Producers Federation of the Philippines, National Federation of Hog Farmers, United Broilers Raisers Association (Ubra) as well as vegetable, fish and sugar producers, said Biazon should resign if he could not do his job.

“The continued inaction of authorities might lead us to stage a market holiday. We appeal to the BOC to act on our plea,“ Mr Briones said in a press conference at the Sulo Hotel in Quezon City.

Mr Briones lamented that not only hog and poultry raisers but also the entire agricultural sector are affected by rampant smuggling.

“We put off the pork and chicken holiday after they agreed to talk to us and address our concerns. But there is no action until now,“ he said.

The groups are demanding the issuance of an Inward Foreign Manifest (IFM) to the Department of Agriculture (DA).

The IFM is a list of imported products, the importer’s name, country source, shipping vessel and date of arrival.

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