This is a re-posted opinion piece.
Should media just report on smuggling or should it take an active role in stopping smuggling activities?
Reporting smuggling means that when smuggling occurs, media outfits report on it. But if media institutions wish to take a more active role, they should proactively watch out for smuggling. This implies that media will actively check where smuggling occurs, and use their extensive communication networks to partner with private sector and government to get rid of rampant smuggling in the Philippines today.
Two media roles
Of course, different media groups can take on different roles. In the past, media’s participation has mainly been limited to reporting about smuggling. As a matter of fact, a small sector of media has been accused of being paid by smugglers to refrain from publicizing smuggling apprehensions so that the identities of the smugglers are hidden, and their good reputations remain intact. This way, they can continue their nefarious activities and engage in economic sabotage. For that is what smuggling is: economic sabotage.
Three institutions have consistently reported practically the same level of exports being shipped to the Philippines, namely, the International Monetary Fund, the United Nations Trade Statistics, and our very own National Statistics Office. But for every $10 in exports to the Philippines, only $7 is reported by the Bureau of Customs (BoC). The difference can be attributed to smuggling: either outright smuggling or technical smuggling (i.e., undervaluation, misdeclaration, or misclassification).
This is a 30-percent smuggling rate! Not only does this mean a loss of tax revenue of more than P100 billion. More importantly, it means the loss of thousands of jobs for our people.
New investors will hesitate to come in because they cannot rely on government to protect their investment from unfair competition from smuggled goods. Goodbye, job creation!
Rural broadcasters
Enter now the Philippine Federation of Rural Broadcasters (PFRB) under its president, Louie Tabing. Among other things, Tabing hosts a popular Saturday/Sunday 4 a.m. to 6 a.m. program on dzMM focused on agricultural technology called “Sa Kabukiran.” He is also known in media circles to fight for justice for the poor.
One of the more important advocacies he has taken up is fighting illegal fishpens in Laguna Lake that not only damage the environment but also decrease the natural municipal fish population and most importantly deprive small fisherfolk of their livelihood.
PFRB recently forged an antismuggling agreement and partnership with Alyansa Agrikultura, a farmer-fisherfolk coalition with 42 federations and organizations representing all major agricultural sectors.
Under the agreement, rural broadcasters would announce over their nationwide radio network a program with the Alyansa to not only report smuggling apprehensions. Rural broadcasters would also seek the private sector’s help by asking the listeners to report any smuggling activities they observe or discover.
They are asked to call or text 0918-930-2118 or e-mail [email protected] the following information: the goods being smuggled, where smuggling is taking place, and the date of the alleged smuggling incident.
This information is then given to the Alyansa Agrikultura, which will process the information and send it directly to BOC Deputy Commissioner Danilo Lim for action.
Success story
Has this arrangement worked? The answer is a resounding yes. Last Friday, November 11, media reported that four containers of smuggled onions worth P17 million were caught by the BoC. What was not reported was how this was achieved.
It was made possible by media watching smuggling, and after this smuggling was caught, media reported the smuggling. But without the former, the latter would not have happened.
After the agreement between the PFRB and the Alyansa was announced, a text was sent to the rural broadcasters, who then immediately forwarded this to the Alyansa. After processing, which took less than an hour, the Alyansa forwarded this information, also by text, to Deputy Commissioner Lim.
Within 24 hours, the four containers of smuggled onions were apprehended, based on another existing agreement between Alyansa and the BoC.
Conclusion
Though not all media organizations should take on the “watching smuggling” role, many more should do so. The smuggling problem is so large and devastating that most of the media should take on this advocacy. People can report to media, which enjoy more credibility than selected government organizations in several areas. Media can then partner with credible private sector organizations to team up with government for immediate action.
Of course, a major reason this works now is because of the full backing being given by Customs Commissioner Ruffy Biazon and Lim.
Media can broadcast programs to encourage more reports from the public then partner with an antismuggling private sector group, then rely on the most important enforcement component: the BoC.
By doing so, media can help finally reduce rampant smuggling in this country.
(The author is chairman of Agriwatch, former secretary for presidential flagship programs and projects, and former undersecretary for Agriculture, and Trade and Industry. For inquiries and suggestions, e-mail [email protected].)
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By: Ernesto M. Ordoñez – Commentary
Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer, Nov. 18, 2011
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