Inquiry on plastic smuggling sought

MANILA, Philipppines - A lawmaker is seeking to investigate the alleged smuggling of plastic resins in the country.

AAMBIS-Owa Party-list Rep. Sharon Garin filed House Resolution 1603 or a "Resolution calling on the House Committee on Ways and Means to investigate the extent of the continued smuggling of plastic resins by big importers in the country which deprives the government of revenues and hurts the local petrochemical industry."

According to a report from the Federation of Philippine Industries, Filipinos had been deprived pf P1.33 trillion government revenues from 2002 to 2011 because of technical smuggling.

"Trillions of pesos allegedly lost to resin smuggling is scandalous! Congress must investigate Customs and te industry, to stop smuggling that has been happening for years, or maybe decades already," Garin said.

Under the the Bureau of Customs will be tasked to identify the exact amount of losses incurred by the government and its effect in related industries.

"Undervaluation of plastic resins is hurting not just the petrochemical industry, but also the entire Philippine economy. For this, Congress must investigate the big importers named in the newspaper report," Garin added.

Garin also mentioned former Customs Commissioner Ruffy Biazon who resigned in 2013 and lamented that he was not able to extinguish the rampant practices of graft and corruption in the agency.

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