The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has asked the Lower House Committee on Dangerous Drugs for support in getting funding for additional x-ray machines to curb smuggling and raise revenues.
During the committee’s investigation hearing on August 14, Customs commissioner Isidro Lapeña said the agency needs more top-of-the-line x-ray machines with better functions and capabilities.
BOC currently has 28 mobile relocatable arch-type x-ray machines deployed in different seaports around the country. The machines came from China 12 years ago under a concessional loan from the Chinese government, said BOC X-ray Inspection Project (XIP) chief Atty. Zsae Carrie De Guzman during the same Lower House hearing. These machines, however, can only show one-dimensional images and cannot see through shipments covered in materials such as lead.
Lapeña said BOC had already submitted to Congress its proposed budget for additional x-ray machines, but the allotment was taken out under the new cash-based policy being pushed by the administration. The Lower House had already approved the BOC’s budget proposal, only to put it on hold due to concerns raised by lawmakers.
“So we would like to appeal to this committee for support,” Lapeña said, adding that additional x-ray machines will help prevent the entry of illegal drugs while increasing revenue collection, as the machines will allow BOC to determine the exact contents of shipments.
Sultan Kudarat 2nd District Representative Horacio Suansing, Jr. suggested that BOC submit a position paper on its budget proposal.
BOC this year has a P1.3-billion budget to acquire six portal-type x-ray machines, 15 fixed baggage x-ray machines, 25 hand-carried baggage x-ray machines, and four mobile baggage x-ray machines.
Bidding for the six portal-type x-ray machines has been undergoing post-qualification. Delivery is set for 90 days for some of the x-ray machines and 120 days for others after awarding of bidder.
Lapeña said, however, that the new x-ray machines being purchased this year will still not be enough given the increasing volume of shipments in the country.
BOC currently subjects 30% to 40% of the daily volume to x-ray inspection. Lapeña acknowledged that the agency could not subject all shipments to x-ray inspection because this could result in port congestion.
Capabilities of new x-rays
The new x-ray machines can double or triple the ability of the current ones, as the new units will be capable of 2D and 3D imaging. The new portal-type x-ray machines can also scan trucks passing through even at a speed of 20 to 40 kilometers per hour, Lapeña noted.
The new x-ray machines will also be capable of detecting illegal drugs, he said.
De Guzman explained that the new x-ray machines can identify organic and inorganic materials, including drugs and other narcotics.
She noted that BOC this year has already replaced the x-ray machines at Ninoy Aquino International Airport terminals with upgraded ones, leading to the high apprehension rate of illegal drugs in parcels.
Asked if ports have enough space to accommodate more x-ray machines, De Guzman said that for the Port of Manila, port operator Asian Terminals Inc. will be demolishing a wall at a portion of the terminal to add more space for x-ray inspections.
There is also available space at the Manila International Container Port, but that BOC will still have to ask the port operator for use of the space, she said.
While waiting for new x-ray machines and the funding for the additional ones being proposed by BOC, Lapeña said the customs bureau “will be more strict in scrutinizing shipments.”
Although still too premature to consider, Lapeña said one idea they are looking at is that the magnetic scrap lifters discovered at a warehouse in Cavite were “a test run” by smugglers to check if these containers can be used to smuggle contraband into the country without detection by BOC.
Lapeña has already instructed XIP to automatically subject to x-ray inspection shipments of magnetic scrap lifters and anything else that could possibly be used to contain illegal drugs and other contraband goods.
BOC already automatically subjects all agricultural shipments to x-ray inspection in response to the agriculture chief’s request to curb agricultural smuggling and the President’s order to stop rice smuggling.
Aside from more x-ray machines, Lapeña emphasized the need to automate BOC’s processes to promote “interoperability” between the new x-ray machines and the agency’s system so images can be readily viewed in the customs bureau’s system.
