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Manila Bulletin devider Business devider Customs discovers P500-M worth of imported rice, palay in Bulacan

Customs discovers P500-M worth of imported rice, palay in Bulacan

Published Aug 30, 2023 09:18 am

At A Glance

  • Over half a billion pesos' worth of imported rice grains and palay were inspected in Bulacan warehouses by the Bureau of Customs (BOC).<br>The inspection revealed 154,000 sacks of imported rice grains and 60,000 sacks of palay in various towns.<br>The imported rice grains were from Vietnam and Pakistan, valued at P431 million, while the palay was valued at P88 million.<br> BOC Commissioner Bienvenido Y. Rubio warned of legal action and confiscation if proper importation documents and payment of duties and taxes were not provided.<br>President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. ordered intensified warehouse inspections to combat rice smuggling and hoarding.<br>The inspections were conducted by the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) units and the Philippine Coast Guard.<br>Letters of Authority (LOAs) were served to the warehouse representatives before the inspections took place.

Over half a billion pesos’ worth of imported rice grains and palay were inspected in several Bulacan warehouses, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) reported on Wednesday, Aug. 30.

The BOC Inspection Team found 154,000 sacks of imported rice grains and 60,000 sacks of palay in the towns of Wakas, Bocaue and San Juan, Balagtas.

The 154,000 sacks of imported rice grains came from Vietnam and Pakistan and have an estimated value of P431 million, while the 60,000 sacks of “palay” are valued at P88 million, the BOC said.

“If the owners of these warehouses fail to show proper documents that they legitimately imported the subject sacks of rice and paid correct duties and taxes thereon, then we will take immediate legal action and confiscate the items here,” BOC Commissioner Bienvenido Y. Rubio said in a statement.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Tuesday ordered the BOC to intensify the inspection of warehouses that allegedly store smuggled rice or are being used for rice hoarding.

The inspection was conducted by the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) units and the Philippine Coast Guard.

House Speaker Martin Romualdez and Representatives Erwin Tulfo, Wilfrido Mark Enverga, and Ambrosion Cruz Jr. also witnessed the inspection.

Rubio served the Letters of Authority (LOAs) to the warehouses’ representatives before proceeding to the inspection, which came a week after the inspection of another batch of Bulacan warehouses witnessed by the House Speaker and lawmakers.

The bureau said that they received derogatory information about the warehouses and verified it for the issuance of the LOAs.

BOC Deputy Commissioner Juvymax Uy highlighted the need for immediate action, recognizing the threat posed by influential organizations capable of crippling the local agriculture sector.

“This is important not only to our agricultural workers, our farmers, but more so for the everyday Juan who toils to put food on the table,” Uy said.

Meanwhile, CIIS Director Verne Enciso said that the “impressive results” of the recent operations should “fire up the bureau to put an end to rice smuggling.”

“Our intel about how massive the scale of these activities drives us to be one step ahead of any potential smuggling attempt. And so while we commend the people behind every operation, we must enjoin them to build up on the past successes and work on bringing these smugglers to justice,” he further stated.

The warehouses are currently locked while the inventory of the imported goods is being conducted by the bureau’s examiners and witnessed by agents from CIIS, PCG, and the warehouse representatives. (Xander Dave Cabellos)

Related Tags

Bureau of Customs Rice sacks Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio
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