26 containers of foreign aid ‘overstaying’ at CIP

CEBU, Philippines - A total of  26 container vans of foreign donations intended for the victims of super typhoon Yolanda in the Visayas are now considered ‘overstaying’ at the customs storage area at the Cebu International Port. 

These containers were consigned to 18 various organizations, foundations, companies, and individuals. Among the consignees was Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma.  Jessica Delgado, head of the Bureau of Customs- Entry Processing Unit, said there was no import entry filed for these shipments. Delgado said that the two containers consigned to Palma arrived at the CIP on January 2.

Other consignees are: Co Wellmade Motors and Development Corporation; ABS-CBN Foundation c/o the Department of Social Welfare and Development; Mayor Annaliza Gonzales-Kwan of Guiuan, Eastern Samar; Balay Mindanaw Foundation Inc.; Bol-anon United Sectors; Phil. Alliance of  X-Seminarian; PLDT Smart Foundation Inc.; Jualyn Algarmer; New Faith Family Children Home Foundation; Barangay Atabay, Hilongos, Leyte; Cross Point Church; Mayor Leonardo Javier Jr.; Apolonia Egbalic; International Southern Baptist; Operation Blessing Phil. Inc.; Philippine Red Cross; and DSWD.

“Maybe the consignees do not know they have these shipment consigned to them, that’s why no import entry was filed for their shipment,” Delgado said.

 BOC-Cebu district collector Rolando Almadin said he is giving as much time to the consignees to claim the goods.

“We are giving them time to file the import entry. We cannot just declare these shipments abandoned considering these are donations coming abroad unlike ordinary shipment that we only give 30 days after arrival for them to file,” said Almadin.

DSWD-7 director Mercedita Jabagat said that they are willing to accept these overstaying shipments if the consignees are willing to donate the goods.

“Pero og ilang i-donate na namo unya kami ang pabayaron sa demurrage fees, di na mi modawat. Natagam na mi,” said Jabagat.

It can be recalled that DSWD-7 was able to pay more than P10 million of demurrage fees to shipping lines for the 72 container vans of rice consigned to the agency from foreign donors.

The demurrage fee is a payment intended for the usage of the container van that is paid to the shipping lines. The payment gets bigger, if it stays longer at the storage area. The fee depends on the shipping company.

In the case of DSWD-7, it paid P500-P1,500 per container every day.

“Lessons learned gyud ni namo. Next time pero simbako lang naa na sad unya’y disaster, we would appreciate nga cash na lang ilang i-donate then ang local na lang ang mamalit sa mga goods and other needs,” Jabagat added.

A total of 48 countries have donated various goods amounting to at least $65.1 million based on the data released by BOC-Cebu from November 11, 2013 to May 28, 2014.

The amount, however, covers only shipments that entered through the Mactan Cebu International Airport. Shipments that entered through CIP are yet to be included in the computation. — /FPL (FREEMAN)