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Sunday, February 10, 2008
Probe sought on port X-rays
CEBU CITY -- If smuggling remains rampant, what does that say about the condition and use of 15 X-ray machines the customs bureau bought and installed in Cebu, among other areas?
Representative Danilo E. Suarez (Quezon Province) pointed out in a resolution that sometime in 2006, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) started using 15 X-ray machines from China and deployed in major airports and seaports across the country.
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Representative Arthur Defensor, chairman of the House of Representatives' committee on rules, referred the resolution to the committee on good government, which is also investigating the allegedly rampant smuggling in Cebu.
In an interview last year, Port of Cebu Customs District Collector Ricardo Belmonte estimated that each machine cost the government P100 million.
But in Saturday's interview, he said he is not sure how much each X-ray machine cost, and how much was paid for the entire transaction.
Two X-ray machines were delivered to the Port of Cebu last year and two more last month.
The BOC bought the X-ray machines from China with the approval of Department of Finance (DOF) Secretary Margarito Teves.
It was not clear how the BOC paid for the X-ray machines.
But last year, President Arroyo issued Executive Order 554, which authorized the bureau to collect container security fee (CSF) from importers and exporters.
Customs Commissioner Napoleon Morales later modified EO 554 by issuing Customs Administrative Order 4-2007, exempting exporters from fees to improve competitiveness.
A source from the BOC said that the X-ray machines were acquired through loans from China and were overpriced. No further details were available, though.
Last year, Belmonte said that the cash division collected US$50 for every 40-footer container van and US$25 per 20-footer van that had to pass through the X-ray machines.
But he said this has been reduced this year to US$10 per 40-footer van and US$5 per 20-footer van.
"Let it be if they are serious about curbing smuggling. After all, we need to change," said Eric Ng Mendoza, president of the Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry, when sought for comment on the fees.
Port of Cebu chief cashier Conrado Abarintos said that in the collection of CSF, two official receipts are issued.
About 75 percent goes to the National Treasury as part of the general fund and the 25 percent is deposited as a trust fund for the amortization and maintenance of the machines.
Asked how much has been collected so far, Abarintos said he has yet to review his records.
Suarez is the author of the Attrition Law that seeks to punish non-performing customs and Bureau of Internal Revenue officials or reward them if they meet their targets.
According to the congressman, the DOF and BOC are still preparing to buy additional machines to strengthen the campaign against smuggling.
Suarez said that to date, however, there has been no official report on the status and effectiveness of the X-ray machines.
"We cannot turn a blind eye to another potential squandering of public funds, should the same be proven to be a mere whim and caprice of the BOC only to the gain of unscrupulous officials of the government," Suarez said in his Resolution 319. (EOB of Sun.Star Cebu)For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star General Santos. (February 10, 2008 issue)
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