Marcos wants to cut importers’ waiting time for shipment validation
PUT TO GOOD USE President Marcos leads the distribution of smuggled rice in Zamboanga City and Zamboanga Sibugay. (File photo from MALACAÑANG)
MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. is seeking to reduce by half the time that importers endure and wait to seek the legitimacy of their shipments from the Bureau of Customs (BOC).
Marcos wants to shorten the current timetable of 15 days to seven days.
The President led the distribution of smuggled rice to Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries when he remarked that it had taken long to give them the rice.
“Medyo natagalan dahil inantay pa natin ‘yung 15 days. At sinusubukan natin ngayong bawasan ‘yung 15 days into seven days,” he said.
(We took a bit long because we waited 15 days. And now we are trying to lessen 15 days to seven days.)
Article continues after this advertisement“Dahil kung legal ka na importer, hawak mo lahat ng dokumento. Pag hinanap sa iyo ‘yan, bibigay nyo kaagad. So, bakit pa 15 days?” the Chief Executive wondered.
Article continues after this advertisement(Because if you are a legal importer, you hold all the documents. So, why is it 15 days?)
Marcos is the concurrent Agriculture Secretary.
He said within 15 days, illegal goods can slip through the authorities.
The President had doubled down efforts to curb agricultural smuggling, pinning the rampant spikes in food prices on cartels.
Customs Modernization and Tariff Act states that BOC can only seize imported goods if importers fail to produce the permits within 15 days upon the demand of the agency’s personnel.
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