SUBIC FREEPORT -- The Bureau of Customs-Port of Subic spearheaded the destruction of P1.5 million worth of prohibited used clothing or ukay-ukay, used tires, and other abandoned goods on Thursday, September 13 in Guiguinto, Bulacan.
The said items were shredded and disposed of at Epy Eco Auction and Waste Disposal Services (EPY ECO), the accredited service provider of the Port of Subic for the condemnation of contrabands and abandoned goods.
The prohibited ukay-ukay and used tires as well as the assorted merchandise were abandoned by the consignees and have been consequently forfeited in favor of the government.
BOC-Subic district collector lawyer Ma. Rhea M. Gregorio led the destruction of the abandoned goods.
Gregorio said that while the commercial proliferation of ‘ukay-ukay’ and ‘used tires’ is popular, the law prohibits its importation as provided by the Republic Act 4653 (RA 4653).
RA 4653 entitled "An act to safeguard the health of the people and maintain the dignity of the nation by declaring it a national policy to prohibit the commercial importation of textile articles commonly known as used clothing and rags" prohibits the importation of ukay-ukay while the Letter of Instruction No. 1086, s. 1980 prohibits the importation of used tires.
Gregorio was joined by the representatives of the Commission on Audit and the local government of Sta. Rita, Guiguinto, Bulacan. (PR)