BPI tells exporters to report erring quarantine inspectors

The Bureau of Plant and Industry (BPI) orders Cebuano exporters to immediately report erring quarantine officers, especially on charging extra or exorbitant fees.

Exporters have been complaining about the extra high fees charged by quarantine inspectors based in Cebu without exemptions, even if they rendered the inspections during regular office hours.

"We respectfully request you [exporters] to inform my office of instances where exorbitant charges are being imposed by the Plant Quarantine Service, more so, if and when such service are being rendered during regular working hours," said BPI director officer-in-charge Lealyn A. Ramos in his letter to PhilExport-Cebu.

PhilExport-Cebu wrote the Department of Agriculture secretary earlier this year about the charging of BPI quarantine inspectors of at least P600 to P1,200 per fumigated container, allegedly to cover the inspector's fare, meals and overtime fees.

Exporters also complained about the arrogance of some quarantine inspectors who were giving exporters a hard time to avail of their services, when they don't give in to the "demands" of these inspectors.

"Such charges do not emanate from the BPI Plant Quarantine Service but from private fumigation companies. It is only the regulatory inspection fees plus the reimbursement of expenses and overtime pay of PQ Officer only if and when the services rendered by PQ Officer exceeds the regular working hours of the government," Ramos explained.

According to PhilExport-Cebu, Ramos' statements are contrary to the experience of exporters in Cebu who are being charged of a minimum of P600 per container fumigated, regardless of the time service was rendered.

Because of this problem, which added to the current burdens faced by the exporters especially with the strengthening of the peso, and other bureaucratic red tapes, PhilExport-Cebu led by its president Alan Suarez, is requesting for a meeting with the DA-7 regional director Eduardo Lecciones and the OIC of Plant Quarantine Service in Cebu Max Cortes, to discuss possible arrangements in order to prevent some PQ inspectors from overcharging exporters during fumigation inspections.

Lecciones and Cortes had been very supportive and cooperative with PhilExport-Cebu in its past advocacies, notably on the Giant African Snail (GAS) issue and on the lack of Quarantine inspectors in Cebu.

The export industry in Cebu, which generated US$4.5 billion last year, is now battered with global competitiveness problem, high cost in doing business in the Philippines, the strengthening of the peso, declining worldwide demand, and other problems.

Last month, Cebuano exporters sought help from the government to address their concerns on the negative effect brought about strengthening peso to the export industry, but to no avail.