Thursday, March 16, 2006
Odilao asks Mangaoang to quit
Former district collector David S. Odilao Jr. yesterday called for the resignation of District Collector Ma. Lourdes V. Mangaoang, citing her alleged failure to meet targets.
But Mangaoang, in a press conference, ignored him, saying Odilao had dismal performance during his time at the Port of Cebu and was then rocked by accusations of anomalies and irregularities.
Mangaoang admitted that the actual revenue collection of the Port of Cebu for 2005 was P3.825 billion, or 1.7 percent lower than the target of P3.9 billion. “Please take note that our target was increased by 38 percent which is much higher than the usual 10 percent increase per year,” Mangaoang said.
She said the Port of Cebu is even doing better than other ports, such as Port of Clark with its negative 42 percent, Port of Subic with negative 38 percent, and the Port of Zamboanga with negative 37.9 percent.
Opinions
Last Tuesday, Finance Secretary Margarito Teves announced that while many groups have expressed support for Mangaoang, there are also what he called as “stakeholders who have different opinions.”
Talks circulate in the bureau that five district collectors are out to get her post.
With this kind of tug-of-war normal in any port, Teves said that in the evaluation, they will first look at whether a collector has met targets before going to other avenues in assessment, such as relationships with “inside and outside” customers.
During last Tuesday’s cabinet meeting in Cebu, Teves said the reshuffling is not only for Cebu but the entire bureau, and that the result will be known in two or three days.
Van
Ignoring Odilao’s statements and amid efforts to replace her, Mangaoang yesterday went on with work by opening a 40-footer van that contained four used vehicles, worth P2.8 million.
The shipment of two units Nissan Terrano, one unit Toyota Celica and one unit Pajero Exceed, is consigned to GLRC Auto Parts and General Services of North Poblacion, Larena, Siquijor.
But Leonito “Diego” Santiago, officer-in-charge of the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) Operations, said they are still checking if the firm is not fictitious.
The customs broker, identified as Rey Avil J. Barcenas, reportedly filed the import entry and paid P61,090 at the Port of Cebu for duties and taxes. The shipment arrived last March 3 from Yokohama, Japan.
Mangaoang said that she will first issue a warrant of seizure and detention before placing the shipment under seizure proceedings, which will lead to the forfeiture of the goods in favor of the government.
The importation is not only a violation of the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines but also of Republic Act 8506 because the vehicles have right-hand-drive steering wheels.
Alert
Meanwhile, Customs Commissioner Napoleon Morales has issued an alert order against one 40-footer container van consigned to Kyocera Kinseki Phils. Inc., a locator at New Cebu Township One Special Ecozone in Cantao-an, Naga, Cebu.
The container van was declared to contain crystal unit parts but lawyer Rico Rey Holganza, CIIS-Cebu chief, believes the contents are misdeclared. (EOB)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (March 16, 2006 issue)
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