By Raymund Antonio
The Bureau of Customs-Ninoy Aquino International Airport (BOC-NAIA) on Thursday decongested its storage facilities by destroying 20 tons of goods in Trece Martires, Cavite.
(BOC / MANILA BULLETIN)
Various abandoned goods, mostly consist of computer parts, expired medicines, vitamins, and food products were destroyed using the Thermal Decomposer (Pyrolysis) facility of the Integrated Waste Management Inc.
BOC-NAIA carried out the destruction of the goods in coordination with the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), Optical Media Board (OMB), National Telecommunication Commission (NTC), and Commission on Audit (COA).
According to the Auction and Cargo Disposal Division (ACDD)-NAIA, the shipments were found to be unfit for human consumption because they have no clearances, their release will be contrary to law, and can't be sold through public auction.
The bureau cited these three reasons for condemnation of the abandoned goods.
The destruction was done in accordance with the provisions of Section 1145 (Disposition of Goods Injurious to Public Health) and 1148 (Disposition of Regulated Goods) of the Republic Act No. 10863 otherwise known as the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA).
NAIA District Collector Carmelita Talusan said the destruction of the goods was meant to "clear storage facilities of abandoned and illegally shipped items to better facilitate trade" in the port. (Raymund F. Antonio)