Subic Bay Freeport – The Department of Agriculture (DA) is considering to locate a Bio-Safe facility in this premier Freeport zone to ensure the security of agriculture, fisheries, and fertilizer supply chains against risks of smuggling and disease.
Early this week, the DA-Inspectorate and Enforcement (DA-IE) unit, led by Undersecretary Carlos Carag met with Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) officials represented by
Chief-of-Staff Atty. Von F. Rodriguez, at the corporate boardroom of the administration building, where the former discussed its mandate to establish a Bio-Safe facility or an examination facility in strategic locations in the country.
The said facility is part of the government’s initiatives for the ₱1-billion Bio-Safe biosecurity program for 2026, which aims to examine all agricultural products before they are even allowed entry through the piers and go through Bureau of Customs (BOC) processes.
According to the DA Inspectorate and Enforcement Unit, the department is eyeing the establishment of such facilities at the Manila International Container Terminal (MICT), the Port of Subic, and the Port of Davao as part of the first phase of the said program.
The Bio-Safe biosecurity program aims to strengthen border controls, enhance on-ground enforcement against smuggling, and prevent food supply disruptions and price shocks.
Its core objectives include preventing disease outbreaks, specifically targeting transboundary animal diseases such as African Swine Fever (ASF) and Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) to prevent supply shocks and price spikes.
Another objective is to strengthen border control by enhancing the detection rate of agricultural smuggling, tightening sanitary/phytosanitary filters on imports, and economic protection, which aims to avoid massive industry losses, such as the estimated ₱200 billion lost due to past ASF outbreaks.
