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Monday, May 15, 2006
Exclude 'ukay-ukay' in anti-smuggling bill: dad
By Rimaliza Opiña and Ernie Olson Jr.
SENATOR Ralph Recto was asked on Sunday to spare retailers of second-hand clothes in Baguio from the coverage of a proposed bill that aims to curb smuggling in the country.
In a proposed measure, Councilor Leandro Yangot Jr. said the grounds cited by Recto in pushing for a ban in the importation of second-hand clothes are without basis since these were all proven wrong by competent authority.
"Whether such clothing is imported in a special economic zone or freeport are, it (importation of second-hand clothes) should not be allowed for health, honor and smuggling issues," a portion of Recto's proposal states.
But Yangot said that second-hand clothes sold in Baguio's "wagwagan" or "ukay-ukay" stores are not smuggled. He said the required customs fees are complied with by retailers of these clothes.
The councilor also used as basis an earlier clarification of former Health secretary Manuel Dayrit, during the onset of the meningococcemia outbreak here, that communicable diseases cannot be transmitted via used clothing.
"There is no scientific study that may prove that used clothing is a potential health hazard," Yangot said.
On the economic aspect, importation of used clothing benefits the City Government and the people working in wagwagan stores.
"The importation of such clothes has become a source of livelihood for numerous legitimate second hand retailers who even converted former banks, cinemas and groceries into wagwag stalls, which is one of a kind in Asia, if not the world," Yangot argued further.
Because of the popularity of wagwagan shops, even celebrities patronize and are regularly seen shopping in these shops, said Yangot, adding the city government also benefits from the taxes paid by owners of these establishments.
(May 15, 2006 issue)
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