Hot items worth P10M seized at Manila pier

Customs operatives seized yesterday some P10 million worth of fake merchandise sporting the most famous brands loaded in a container van from Hong Kong at the Manila International Container Port bound for the local market.

Ordered held for violation of the Intellectual Property Rights Law by Bureau of Customs (BOC) commissioner Titus Villanueva was a 40-foot container van consigned to Anchorage International Freight Forwarders Inc.

BOC Intelligence and Enforcement Group deputy commissioner Ray Allas, in his report to Villanueva said the items from Hong Kong consisted of 643 cartons of ready-to-wear clothes, umbrellas, ladies handbags, wallets, and other ladies apparel.

The fake brands included Gucci, Ferragamo, Mossimo, Prada, Fubu, and others. The operation was led by Capt. Isabelo Tibayan III.

Meanwhile, the Department of Education Culture and Sports (DECS) has taken over from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) the construction and rehabilitation of some 5,000 classrooms all over the country with Parents-Teacher’s organizations taking active roles.

In a memorandum signing last Tuesday, DPWH Secretary Simeon Datumanong transferred to DECS Secretary Raul Roco the P1.99 billion in funds for the "construction, completion, repair, rehabilitation, and renovation" of the classrooms under the 2001 Basic Education Facilities Program of DECS. – Jose Aravilla