Customs launches first-ever container monitoring unit

THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) launched its first-ever Container Monitoring Unit (CMU) at the Davao Port on Thursday.

Lawyer Edward James Dy Buco, deputy district customs collector for operations, said the CMU is a monitoring gadget for empty containers.

He said it has the ability to automatically alarm as a warning signal to detect an overstaying empty container.

Dy Buco said few people know that a 40-footer container van is an imported article subject to duties and taxes if not re-exported within five months under Philippine laws.

Section 5 (Operational Procedure) of the Customs Administrator Order 12-80 states that "containers arriving as empties shall be re-shipped within 150 days counted from the date of last discharge."

"Containers stuffed with imported cargoes shall be reshipped within 150 days counted from the date of return of the empty containers to the shipping line as evidence by the Equipment Interchange Receipt (EIR) issued by the line and signed by the party receiving and/or delivering the containers," the order read.

"Containers which have not been reshipped within the period aforementioned or within the period of extension granted, if any, shall be treated as any imported commodity subject to payment of duties, taxes and other charges," Dy Buco said.

He said estimated duties and taxes due to the government for 200 reefer and dry containers could amount to P436,814,692.

He said in Davao Region alone, there are about 1,000 overstaying containers that have duties and taxes reaching P2 billion.

Commissioner Rozano Ruffino Biazon said the CMU operation in Davao Port is a pilot project for the entire bureau and will be replicated to other ports soon in order to boost revenue collections.

"I really appreciate the initiative of the district to help the bureau achieve the collection target," Biazon said in his short message during the signing of memorandum for the establishment of CMU in Davao port.

"You exercise the creativity in your desire to help the bureau hit if not surpass our collection target. This effort contributes so much to the entire bureau," the commissioner said. (ANC)