SUBIC BAY FREEPORT ZONE (PIA) — The Department of Agriculture (DA) is considering the establishment of a bio-safe facility in Subic Bay Freeport to help secure the country’s agriculture, fisheries, and fertilizer supply chains against smuggling and disease risks.
DA Undersecretary Carlos Carag disclosed that the proposed facility forms part of the government’s P1-billion bio-safe biosecurity program for 2026, which aims to ensure that all agricultural products undergo inspection before entering the country through ports and before processing by the Bureau of Customs.
The Bio-Safe program seeks to strengthen border control, improve on-ground enforcement against agricultural smuggling, and prevent food supply disruptions and price increases.
It also aims to guard against transboundary animal diseases such as African Swine Fever (ASF) and avian influenza, which have previously caused significant losses to the agriculture sector.
In addition, the initiative is expected to enhance sanitary and phytosanitary measures on imports and boost the detection of smuggled agricultural goods, helping protect local industries from economic losses, including the estimated P200 billion impact of past ASF outbreaks.
Aside from Subic, the agency eyes similar facilities at the Manila International Container Terminal and the Port of Davao as part of the first phase of the program. (UnliNews Online)
