Customs to auction P33-M smuggled garlic from China

MANILA, Philippines - The Bureau of Customs (BOC) is set to auction off on Aug. 26 P33 million worth of smuggled white garlic from China that arrived at the Manila International Container Port (MICP) last June.

BOC district collector retired Major General Elmir de la Cruz said the public auction would be held through sealed bidding to be conducted by the MICP at 2:30 p.m. at the MICP Building in North Harbor in Tondo. Viewing is set on Aug. 22.

The first shipment was 17 units of 40-foot shipping containers reportedly consigned to MC Jayson International Trading. It contained a total of 486,870 kilos of garlic with an auction floor price of P24,343,500.

The second shipment, on the other hand, was four units of 40-foot shipping containers allegedly intended for Sofrich Trading. The cargo contained 104,670 kilos of garlic with an auction floor price of P5,233,500.

The third shipment was two units of 40-foot shipping containers consigned to Yan Hu Food Manufacturing. The cargo’s weight was 55,850 kilos with an auction floor price of P2,792,500.

The last shipment was only one 40-foot shipping container consigned to CMA CGM Philippines Inc. It contained 28,960 kilos with an auction floor price of P1,448,000.

The seized goods are temporarily housed at the International Container Terminal Services Inc. Container Yard.

‘Return to Canada’

Meanwhile, environmental group EcoWaste Coalition proposed to compel Canadian authorities to “cause the immediate return of the 50 containers of toxic waste to their country” to decongest Manila’s ports and bring environmental justice.

In April, environmentalists asked the Canadian government, through its embassy in Makati City, to take back the hazardous garbage originally declared as plastic scraps for recycling.

The toxic shipment started arriving at Philippine ports in June 2013, but subsequent inspection by customs officials led to the discovery of the hazardous garbage in the shipping containers.

“But the containers have been lounging (in the ports) for months,” said Aileen Lucero, coordinator of the EcoWaste Coalition.

“It’s not only a matter of freeing up port space. Returning the toxic shipments to the sender will help bring the controversy to a close and see the triumph of environmental justice. We therefore reiterate our request to Ambassador Neil Reeder to take back Canada’s perilous garbage now,” she added.

The EcoWaste Coalition stressed that importing hazardous trash in the guise of recycling is not only devious and criminal, but a direct affront to our nation’s dignity, health and sovereignty.

Last Wednesday, the Senate committee on trade, commerce and entrepreneurship conducted its first public hearing, in aid of legislation, to address the congestion at the Port of Manila (POM) and the MICP.

This came after truckers and customs brokers held protest actions in front of the Asian Terminals Inc. and various national and local government agencies to denounce government’s seeming inaction to solve the congestion of Manila’s ports.

As per Resolution 808 filed by Sen. Francis Escudero, “the congestion has caused local and international vessels the inability to dock and unload their cargoes at the POM and MICP, making major shipping lines to boycott the ports of Manila due to lack of available berthing spaces.” – With Rhodina Villanueva