Total ban of exportation of raw seashells pushed

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu export sector, led by the Cebu Gifts, Toys and Housewares, Foundation Inc. (GTH) is currently drafting a position paper to be submitted to Bureau of Customs (BoC), in its bid to implement the total banning of the exportation of unprocessed sea shells.

Reportedly, increasing volumes of raw sea shells from the Philippines are now exported to China, causing the shortage of sea-shell supply for local exporters.

Cebu-GTH president Ramir Bonghanoy said that the organization, together with the Fashion Accessories Manufacturers and Exporters (FAME-Cebu), as well as the Cebu Furniture Industry Foundation (CFIF), will be submitting a position paper to BoC soon.

Bonghanoy said this is to revive its previous advocacy in calling the concerned government agencies to ban or eradicate the exportation of un-processed sea-shells especially to China.

Cebu-GTH already submitted a similar request and position paper on this issue years back, but the group has decided to re-new the appeal under the new administration.

According to Bonghanoy the continuous exportation of raw seashells to China is hurting Filipino manufacturers, as they are suffering from shortage of supply, while the world market is improving.

The old position paper on this matter was backed up by the PHilExport-Cebu, Bonghanoy said. This time, Cebu-GTH will again ask the help from PHilExport here, as well as the Export Development Council (EDC).

“I hope this problem of raw seashell exportation will be solved,” Bonghanoy said.

The Cebu export industry is requiring an average estimate of 10 to 12 tons of raw seashells every month. This is not to include; the strong performance of recovering market for fashion and home accessories sector.

If this problem will not be given a solution, Bonghanoy said the export industry, especially those that are heavily users of seashells will suffer from severe shortage.

In fact, because of this problem, Cebu-GTH and FAME-Cebu are planning to launch a “Sea Shell Farming” program in order to sustain the supply of raw materials.

Bonghanoy said the Philippines supposedly should have not been involved in this issue, had the government strictly monitored the going out of raw sea-shells from the country, which are mostly illegally exported.

Aside from killing the export manufacturing industry, the government will also lose potential revenue from this activity.

Bonghanoy hopes that the new set of officers under President Benigno Aquino III administration will seriously look into this matter.

Thus, Cebu-GTH will lead in the reviving of the old position paper that has not been acted upon by the previous administrations.

While the establishment of Sea Shell Farming can help the exporters’ source good supply of sea-shells, banning the exportation of Sea-shells to China in particular, would largely help the Filipino exporters, Bonghanoy said.— (FREEMAN)