By Ferdinand G. Patinio
MANILA, September 18 (PNA) — Over Php469-Million was earned by the Bureau of Customs-Manila International Container Port (BOC-MICP) from the conduct of public auctions on illegally imported goods forfeited in favor of the government from January 1 to September 16, 2014.
BOC-MICP District Collector Elmir Dela Cruz said the revenue came from 14 public auctions of some 1,319 container vans with forfeited shipments, generating a total of Php469.052-million, 261% over its full-year 2014 auction revenue target of Php130-Million.
The biggest chunk of revenue came from the sale of 315 container vans of glutinous and white rice last September 11, 2014 which earned over Php393-Million.
“More than raising revenues for the government, the aggressive disposition of forfeited goods has also helped decongest the MICP and sent a strong message to our stakeholders that we are committed to implementing customs laws and policies to the letter,” he said in a statement.
The figure includes the Php12.065-million winning bid on a shipment of smuggled garlic estimated 486,870 kilograms sold through public auction last September 16.
The 17 container vans of garlic arrived from Shandong, China last June 2013, was seized from MC Jayson International Trading for lack of Sanitary and Phyto-Sanitary (SPS) Import Clearance from the Department of Agriculture (DA).
Under the Plant Quarantine Law of 1978 law or the Presidential Decree No. 1433, importations of garlic require an SPS Clearance from the agriculture department.
Meanwhile, the BOC-MICP also condemned 1,091 container vans of seized goods including pirated or fake goods, food items and medicines that are expired and have no permits from the Food and Drug Administration.
These items can neither be sold through public bidding nor donated to the Department of Social Welfare and Development. (PNA)