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The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has turned over imported foodstuff and footwear to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for donation to Typhoon Odette’s victims
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The goods, donated on December 24, consist of 5,200 sacks of rice, 91,200 pieces of canned goods, and 81,200 pairs of footwear
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The goods were seized at the Port of Batangas, Manila International Container Port, and Port of Manila
The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has turned over imported foodstuff and footwear to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for donation to people affected by the onslaught of Typhoon Odette.
The goods, donated on December 24, consist of 5,200 sacks of rice, 91,200 pieces of canned goods, and 81,200 pairs of footwear, which were seized at the Port of Batangas, Manila International Container Port, and Port of Manila, respectively, and forfeited in favor of the government.
Decrees of abandonment were issued for 10 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU) of Vietnam rice and one 40-foot container of footwear under Section 1129 (Abandonment, Kinds and Effects of) of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA) after the consignees of the goods failed to file the corresponding goods declaration for the shipments within the prescribed period.
Meanwhile, 20 TEUs of canned goods were seized and forfeited for violation of Section 1400 (Misdeclaration, Misclassification, Undervaluation in Goods Declaration) concerning Sections 117 (Regulated Importation and Exportation) and 1113 (Property Subject to Seizure and Forfeiture) of CMTA.
Donation is one of the forms of disposition of seized, abandoned, and forfeited goods under the CMTA. Goods for donation are those that remain unsold after at least two public auctions for want of or lack of an acceptable bid.
Donation may be made to another government agency after the approval of the Finance secretary or to the DSWD in case of goods suitable for shelter, foodstuff, clothing, materials, or medicines.
In his message, Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero said BOC will continue to support DSWD in safeguarding the interest of the public and to ensure donations received by the country are swiftly processed to respond to the needs of the Filipino people, especially at critical times.
BOC earlier said it has activated one-stop shops at its collection districts to expedite the processing and release of all donated relief goods for victims of Typhoon Odette.
