House finalizes Customs modernization bill

MANILA, Philippines - The House of Representatives is finalizing the bill that will modernize the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and minimize smuggling and corruption.

The bill is one of several measures that leaders of the House and the Senate earlier agreed to pass before the end of the third and last regular session of Congress in June.

Rep. Lito Atienza of party-list group Buhay said yesterday he and members of the committee on ways and means have agreed on major changes in the bill.

“They have accepted my proposal to require all shipments bound for Manila and other ports of entry to be inspected by a third-party professional inspector at the ports of origin,” he said.

He said the cost of inspection would be borne by the importer and not by the BOC.

“The third-party inspector would issue a certification as to the contents of the shipment and its fair market value, which will serve as the basis for the computation of tariff and duties. The inspector is required to disallow the shipment of contraband,” he added.

Atienza pointed out that the BOC and importers have agreed to his proposal as it would expedite the release of shipments and minimize smuggling and corruption. “Once inspected at the ports of origin, the shipments should be expeditiously released by Customs.”

He said shipments entering the country but were not inspected at the ports where they came from should raise red flags for BOC personnel.

The required inspection is expected to reduce revenue losses from smuggling. Atienza said such losses are now estimated at a minimum of P300 billion.