By Betheena Unite
The Bureau of Customs claimed that it is now more than halfway done with its own compliance on the audit released by the Commission on Audit (COA) on a huge number of overstaying containers in its ports with some containing goods that could be beneficial to calamity-stricken Filipinos.
Bureau of Customs (MANILA BULLETIN)
On Wednesday, the Bureau clarified that under Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero, the Customs Internal Audit Service “has already taken positive steps to address the issue, not only in compliance to the Commission on Audit suggestion but most importantly, to fix the bureau’s records and to reconcile its Property Plant and Equipment listing against actual inventory, among others.”
The audit agency earlier revealed that at least 6,985 containers have been overstaying in various ports in the country, which can be traced back to more than 25 years.
It further reported that some of the overstaying containers contain rice, sugar, donated goods for calamity victims, and other perishable items.
According to Internal Administration Group Deputy Commissioner Donato San Juan, of the 37 COA audit observations and recommendations, the bureau was able to comply 23 or 62 percent compliance on its audit highlights.
An inventory team tasked to reconcile the bureau’s 2012 last inventory report have been established, San Juan said.
All inventory reports are properly recorded in the agency’s Books of Accounts, the officials furthered.