By Betheena Kae Unite
Various abandoned goods like candies and helmets worth P3.5 million were destroyed by the Bureau of Customs in Angat, Bulacan Wednesday.
According to the Auction and Cargo Disposal Division (ACDD)-Port of Manila, the shipments were found to be unfit for human consumption, have no commercial value, and the release thereof is contrary to law and cannot be sold through public auction. (Photo courtesy of Bureau of Customs via Facebook / MANILA BULLETIN)
Four abandoned containers containing expired jelly candies and helmets were destroyed at the facility of Zafra Feed Milling.
According to the Auction and Cargo Disposal Division (ACDD)-Port of Manila, the shipments were found to be unfit for human consumption, have no commercial value, and their release will be contrary to law and cannot be sold through public auction. These reasons prompted the bureau to just destroy the goods.
Two 40-footer containers containing expired jelly candies, with an estimated worth of P2 million from China were consigned to Richco Marketing. The goods were destroyed through composting/rendering.
The two remaining 40-footer containers of helmets with an estimated value of P1.5 million were consigned to Mild Red Trading. The shipments were destroyed through crushing.
The shipment, according to the bureau, was misdeclared as housewares and lacks the required Department of Trade and Industry – Bureau of Philippine Standards (DTI-BPS) permits and clearances.
The condemnation was in line with provisions of Section 1145 (Disposition of Goods Injurious to Public Health) to 1146 (Disposition of Prohibited Goods) of the Republic Act No. 10863 otherwise known as the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA) and other relevant Customs Memorandum Orders and Customs Administrative Orders.
It was done in the presence of members from the media and representatives from the local government unit to comply with the directive of Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña to make the disposition of forfeited goods more transparent.
All district collectors were previously ordered by the commissioner to examine abandoned containers in their respective ports as well as ensure transparency in the condemnation of forfeited goods.