President Marcos has pitched to reduce the period given to rice importers to prove the legitimacy of their shipments when flagged by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) from 15 days to only a week.
Marcos made the recommendation as he was speaking before beneficiaries of rice donations in Cavite on Friday, Sept. 22.
He said it would allow the government to immediately distribute the seized smuggled rice to depressed communities.
"Kaya nag-antay lang kami dahil bago mo huhulihin, nasa batas, kailangan yung importer ay mag --- kailangan patunayan within 15 days na legal yung kanilang inimport. Kaya’t medyo natagalan dahil inantay pa natin yung 15 days (We are just waiting because before we can seize, under the law, the importer is given 15 days to explain that the importation is legal. This is why it is taking us time because we are still waiting for 15 days)," Marcos said as he was telling the beneficiaries that the government has been giving out seized smuggled imports of rice.
Under Customs laws, importers are given 15 days from the time the Customs discovered the shipment to present importation documents to prove that the seized items were legally procured.
In case of failure to present necessary documents, the BOC will issue a warrant of seizure and detention, taking the goods under the custody of the government.
Perishable goods, including agricultural goods, will be subjected for condemnation in order to prevent them from reaching the market. However, in special cases such as this, the government can donate the seized items if they deem it necessary.
"At sinusubukan natin ngayon bawasan yung 15 days into seven days (And now we are trying to reduce the 15 days into seven days)," Marcos said.
"Dahil kung legal ka na importer, hawak mo lahat ng dokumento. 'Pag hinanap sa iyo ‘yan, bibigay niyo kaagad. So, bakit pa 15 days? (Because if you are a legal importer, you have all the documents. If you are asked to present it, you can do it promptly. So, why do we still need 15 days)?" Marcos pointed out.
The President said the 15-day grace period might even be used by importers to slip it out to the market.
"Sabi ko, baka kung anong mangyari diyan, mailulusot pa nila 'yan. Kaya’t sabi ko, gawin natin ang lahat para makuha na ng pamahalaan, makuha na ng Bureau of Customs (I said they might even try to slip it out. So, I said let us do everything in order for the Bureau of Customs to obtain it)," he said.
Marcos led the distribution of 1,200 bags of rice to Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries in General Trias. The rice donation was part of the recently seized smuggled rice by the Customs.
A total of 1,500 sacks of smuggled rice were also donated to beneficiaries in Zamboanga Sibugay last Tuesday, Sept. 19.