The Bureau of Customs-Port of Davao will auction off 2,366 metric tons of rice, equivalent to 2.366 million kilograms on December 17, 2014, a sale expected to generate revenues of at least P68.458 million for the agency.
The rice, consisting of 43,160 50kg bags of long grain white rice and 4,160 50kg bags of glutinous rice from Thailand and Vietnam, are divided into nine lots.
The shipments were imported by San Carlos Multi Purpose Cooperative (SACAMUCO) and arrived in Davao in September 2013. These were seized by the BOC due to the failure of the importer to obtain the required import permits from the National Food Authority.
In a press statement, BOC acting district collector in Davao Ricardo Butalid, Jr. said glutinous rice has been pegged at a floor price of P49.00 per kilo and long grain white rice at P27.00 per kilo.
As the rice to be auctioned is still subject of ongoing cases, proceeds from the auction will be held in trust by the BOC.
Last February, the Bureau filed smuggling-related charges against officials of SACAMUCO for the unlawful importation of over 28,000 sacks of rice with an estimated market value of P34 million. Investigation by the BOC showed that San Carlos Multi-Purpose Cooperative misdeclared both the actual quantity of rice it imported and where these came from.
SACAMUCO has been identified as one of the consignees used to bring in rice into the Philippines without import permits.
“The Bureau is well within its legal rights to dispose of the seized rice through public auction to preserve the value of the rice and to prevent damage or spoilage. Rest assured that the entire process will be transparent and aboveboard,” said Butalid.
Prospective bidders should be licensed wholesalers or retailers of the National Food Authority.
The winning bidder must make an on-the-spot payment in cash or manager’s check of at least 50% of the bid price upon announcement of the winning bid as certified to by the Auction Committee and the Commission on Audit representative, with the remaining balance of 50% to be paid on the next business day.
The seized goods shall be available for viewing on December 15 and 16, 2014.
Image courtesy of Naypong at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
