MANILA, July 21 (PNA) — Close to PhP200 million was generated by the Manila International Container Port (MICP) and the Port of Zamboanga after the auction of over 250,000 sacks of confiscated rice.
The Bureau of Customs (BOC) reported that both ports generated a combined record sale of PhP164.8 million from the sale of the seized 250,730 sacks or 8.92 million kilograms of white and glutinous rice.
In a public auction held last July 15, the MICP sold 103,746 sacks or 5.18 million kilograms of white and glutinous rice for PhP94.2 million, while the Port of Zamboanga was able to gain additional revenue of PhP70.57 million for the sale of 146,984 sacks or 3.74 million kilograms of rice last May 28.
On the other hand, the bureau said that the Port of Manila is scheduled to conduct an auction sale of seized items in Warehouse 159, which is undergoing inventory and segregation of confiscated items for auction and for disposal.
The public auction sale is set on July 29, which is expected to generate a minimum of PhP7.5 million in revenues.
To be auctioned off are 318,000 kilograms of steel sheets, 550 bales of cotton handloom bathmats and hand stuffed woolen carpets and 1,750 units of used TV sets.
Meanwhile, the BOC’s total revenues generated by five collection districts from the sale of illegally imported goods forfeited in favor of the government amounted to PhP346.56 million from January to July.
The ports that contributed to the revenue are the Port of Manila with PhP81.35 million, MICP with PhP145.68 million, Port of Batangas with PhP32.36 million, Port of Zamboanga with PhP70.57 million, and Port of Davao with PhP16.58 million.
Aside from the added revenue, the auctions were able to free 491 container vans and return to their respective shipping lines for circulation.
“We are pleased that in addition to the revenues for the government, these public auctions of forfeited goods also helped in freeing the ports of congestion,” said Customs Commissioner Alberto Lina in a statement. (PNA)