Co-authors of the bill are... Emmanuel Joel J. Villanueva (Party-list, CIBAC)... 

The House of Representatives has approved on third and final reading a bill that would protect government revenue derived from importations by incorporating into the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines, as amended, certain provisions that will plug perceived loopholes and weaknesses. 

Speaker Prospero C. Nograles, one of the principal authors of the bill, said House Bill 6995, or the "Anti-Smuggling Act of 2010," will strengthen the internal control mechanism in the Bureau of Customs (BOC) against smuggling.

It mandates the Commissioner of Customs to instill transparency and accountability in the Bureau through a comprehensive audit of the relevant systems, controls and procedures towards attaining the agency-set policies and programs.

Rep. Lorenzo R. Tañada III (4th District, Quezon), principal author of the bill, emphasized that the measure will further provide protection to the domestic industries against unfair competition brought about by fraudulently imported articles which are generally and usually priced below the domestic market values of the comparative locally manufactured goods.Tañada said the law upgrades the penal provisions in the Code which have not been updated or amended since 1957 and are therefore already impotent in deterring the commission of smuggling.

"I strongly felt that the bill is what is most needed by the country, not just to beef up government coffers with revenues from increased customs collections but more importantly, to ensure that the country's industries are exposed to fair competition fostering greater economic activity, job preservation and creation," Tañada said.

Tañada said smuggling has become a pesky problem of the country which could be offset the accelerated reduction of tariffs.

However, outright and technical smuggling occur at magnitudes that exposed domestic producers to unfair competition and injures them in the process.Rep. Juan Edgardo M. Angara (Lone Distric, Aurora), co-author of the bill, said the disposition and forfeiture of goods seized by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) will be strengthened under the bill.

"Smugglers themselves should not be allowed to profit from their own violation of our customs laws. They should be barred from involvement in auction sales of the very items or goods they brought in fraudulently," Angara said.

Under the bill otherwise known as the "Anti-Smuggling Act of 2010," reference information obtained from a value data base approved by the Commissioner of the Customs, including Revision Orders, shall be used to test the truthfulness and accuracy of a given value declaration.

The measure also provides for a summary procedure for seizure and forfeiture for goods that are fraudulently imported into the country without being entered through the customs house or without payment of the correct and applicable duties, taxes and fees.

As a powerful deterrent against smuggling, the bill increases the rates of penalties, both fine and imprisonment for fraudulent acts like outright and technical smuggling.

Fraudulent importation shall be deemed a heinous crime and a person found guilty of fraudulently importing articles shall be punished with reclusion perpetua and a maximum fine of P50 million.

Co-authors of the bill are Majority Leader Arthur D. Defensor, Sr. (3rd District, Iloilo), Deputy Speakers Eric D. Singson (2nd District, Ilocos Sur) and Raul V. Del Mar (1st District, Cebu City) and Reps. Monico O. Puentevella (Lone District, Bacolod City), Alfonso V. Umali, Jr. (2nd District, Oriental Mindoro), Salvador H. Escudero III (1st District, Sorsogon), Nicanor M. Briones (Party-list-AGAP), Rufus B. Rodriguez (2nd District, Cagayan de Oro), Al Francis C. Bichara (2nd District, Albay), Reno g. Lim (3rd District, Albay), Liwayway P. Vinzons-Chato (Lone District, Camarines Norte), Pedro P. Romualdo (Lone District, Camiguin), Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr. (1st District, Makati City), Belma A. Cabilao (1st District, Zamboanga Zibugay), Jeci A. Lapus (3rd District, Tarlac), Ma. Carissa O. Coscolluela (Party-list, BUTIL), Mauricio O. Domogan (Lone District, Baguio City), Bienvenido M. Abante (6th District, Manila), Solomon R. Chungalao (Lone District, Ifugao), Raul T. Gonzalez, Jr. (Lone District, Iloilo City), Abraham Kahlil B. Mitra (2nd District, Palawan), Roque R. Ablan, Jr. (1st District, Ilocos Norte), Eufrocino M. Codilla, Sr. (4th District, Leyte), Antonio V. Cuenco (2nd District, Cebu City), Edcel C. Lagman (1st District, Albay), Del R. De Guzman (2nd District, Marikina City), Fergenel G. Biron (4th District, Iloilo), Matias V. Defensor, Jr. (3rd District, Quezon City), Eduardo C. Zialcita (1st District, Parañaque City), Maria Milagros H. Magsaysay (1st District, Zambales), Roger G. Mercado (Lone District, Southern Leyte), Reylina G. Nicolas (4th District, Bulacan), Trinidad G. Apostol (2nd District, Leyte), Rodolfo G. Valencia (1st District, Oriental Mindoro), Edelmiro A. Amante (2nd District, Agusan del Norte), Genaro M. Alvarez, Jr. (6th District, Negros Occidental), Ernesto C. Pablo (Party-list, APEC), Elpidio F. Barzaga, Jr. (2nd District, Cavite), Ma. Theresa B. Bonoan-David (4th District, Manila), Emil L. Ong (2nd District, Northern Samar), Datu Pax S. Mangudadatu (1st District, Sultan Kudarat), Pablo P. Garcia (2nd District, Cebu), Niel C. Tupas, Jr. (5th District, Iloilo), Robert Raymund M. Estrella (Party-list, ABONO), Victor Aguedo E. Agbayani (2nd District, Pangasinan), Teodoro A. Casiño (Party-list, BAYAN MUNA), Teofisto L. Guingona III (2nd District, Bukidnon), Emmanuel Joel J. Villanueva (Party-list, CIBAC), Ana Theresia N. Hontiveros (Party-list, AKBAYAN), Exequiel B. Javier (Lone District, Antique), Junie E. Cua (Lone District, Quirino), Joseph Emilio A. Abaya (1st District, Cavite), Mujiv S. Hataman (Party-list, ANAK MINDANAO), Ma. Rachel J. Arenas (3rd District, Pangasinan), Anna York P. Bondoc (4th District, Pampanga), Edgardo M. Chatto (1st District, Bohol), Janette L. Garin (1st District, Iloilo), Edgar L. Valdez (Party-list, APEC), Manuel “Way Kurat” E. Zamora (1st District, Compostela Valley), Proceso J. Alcala (2nd District, Quezon), Ma. Amelita C. Villarosa (Lone District, Occidental Mindoro), Marcelino R. Teodoro (1st District, Marikina City), Rosendo S. Labadlabad (2nd District, Zamboanga del Norte), Victor J. Yu (1st District, Zamboanga del Sur), Rene M. Velarde (Party-list, BUHAY), Irwin C. Tieng (Party-list, BUHAY), Glenn A. Chong (Lone District, Biliran), Ann K. Hofer (2nd District, Zamboanga Sibugay), Mark Llandro L. Mendoza (4th District, Batangas), Adelina Rodriguez-Zaldarriaga (2nd District, Rizal), Wilfrido Mark M. Enverga (1st District, Quezon), Maria Evita R. Arago (3rd District, Laguna), Angelito C. Gatlabayan (2nd District, Antipolo City), Felix R. Alfelor, Jr. (4th District, Camarines Sur), Philip A. Pichay (1st District, Surigao del Sur), Neptali M. Gonzales II (Lone District, Mandaluyong City) and the late Guillermo Cua (Party-list, COOP-NATTCO) and Leonila V. Chavez (Party-list, BUTIL).  

Source: PRIB, Lorelei V. Castillo, 17 February 2010