BOC orders tight watch of foodstuff from Japan

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu customs district collector Ronnie Silvestre has directed all concerned officials to strictly monitor the importation of foodstuff from Japan amidst the worldwide concern of the nuclear crisis in the country.

In his memorandum, Silvestre directed his deputy collectors for operations and assessment, district commander of the Enforcement and Security Services, the officer-in-charge of the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Services, chief of the X-ray Inspection Project and the collector of the sub-port of Mactan to strictly monitor the arrival of food importation from Japan so that necessary coordination can be made with the Department of Health and other government agencies concerned for the required clearances.

Francis Agustin Erpe, BOC Cebu deputy collector for operations, said there are no food importations coming from Japan so far. According to him, most importations coming from Japan are vehicle replacement parts.

Erpe also clarified that Fuji apple came from China and not from Japan as what many believed.

Sixth District Rep. Luigi Quisumbing, meanwhile, has called on the Department of Foreign Affairs to immediately set up crisis centers for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) who might have been adversely affected by the crisis in Japan.

Quisumbing also alerted local disaster management agencies and organizations to observe vigilance. — Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon/FPL (THE FREEMAN)