DTI: Stop ukay-ukay trade by plugging point of entry

CEBU, Philippines - Apprehending ukay-ukay or used clothing retailers is like barking on the wrong tree, this according to Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) 7 Director Aster Caberte adding that solving the problem has to start from the point of entry.

“The purpose of allowing used clothing to enter the country is different. It is supposedly for aid (or clothing assistance.) As to why they were able to enter the country in volume, (thus are traded,) I can’t speak for the Bureau of Customs,” she said in an interview with The Freeman.

Caberte said the massive entry of used clothing is not an obligation of the DTI. The agency is however, disturbed by the issue, as this has already affected the local garment industry.

“(To solve this problem,) it has to start from the point of entry,” Caberte said.

In 2002, local producers of garments have cried foul on the presence of cheap imports from China as well as smuggled ones. The entry of ukay-ukay retailers has added insult to injury, which prompted local players to develop their own niches in both the local and international market.

Edgar Godinez, managing director of Marcia Garments Co., however said ukay-ukay has not affected the sales performance of his company, which exclusively exports garments to Japan.

“But I do believe it has affected those who are doing domestic marketing. But personally, the presence of ukay-ukay, which some of my friends fondly call UK, has benefited the consumer market especially those who can’t afford to buy brand new clothes. It is only with UK that one can buy a dress with good cloth quality at very cheap prices,” he told The Freeman.

For his part, Cebuana Headway general manager Eric Sendrijas said his company, which manufactures volumes of garments for ready markets such as school uniforms, is also unaffected by the ukay-ukay.

Cebu Vice Mayor Michael Rama said in a press conference held last Wednesday that the local government is not keen on raiding stores selling ukay-ukay and pirated CDs.

“You just can’t raid and raid and raid. (We understand that there are economic reasons behind this.) They must be given alternative jobs (if we stop them from selling ukay ukay and pirated CDs because whether we like it or not,) they will still go back to selling after the raid. It is doable but not a priority (if I get elected as Mayor of Cebu City,)” he said.