Gov't Watch: Expand BOC pre-inspection schemes to curb smuggling

Gov’t Watch commends the Bureau of Customs for its recent seizure of illegally imported Indian white rice valued at about P450 million.

The 420,000 50-kilo bags of rice abandoned at the Subic Bay Freeport last April were made to appear by the consignee as a transshipment originally bound for Indonesia. 

“We are thankful for the vigilance and close cooperation between the Bureau of Customs and the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority as they have averted a large economic displacement in our rice importation,” said Gov’t Watch chairman Raul T. Concepcion.

Gov’t Watch has long advocated that all importations, especially those involving oil and petroleum products, be subjected to a pre-inspection scheme conducted by duly accredited third party inspection companies such as SGS, Cotecna, Bureau Veritas, Intertek, Admiral Testing Services And Inspectorate International Phils. Corp.

“We are in total agreement with the suggestion to expand the BOC’s pre-inspection programs to include containerized and transshipments as subject for inspection. This can only help in curbing not only outright smuggling, but also undervaluation of goods,” Concepcion said.

On behalf of Gov’t Watch, Concepcion made the following additional suggestions:

1. The BOC, Freeports and Special Economic Zones, and other government agencies responsible for the issuance of import permits such as the NFA to implement a system that allows for greater cross cooperation among themselves.

“This will help in establishing transparency and clear accountability should we encounter similar lapses in the future,” Concepcion said.

2. The BOC to intensify its campaign against smuggling under the RATS (Run After The Smugglers) Program.

3. Congress to review existing laws and pass additional legislature with regards to smuggling.

“Those guilty of smuggling-related offenses must be subject to harsher and more stringent penalties. The revenue that government loses due to smuggling is tantamount to economic sabotage,” Concepcion said. — GOV’T WATCH Statement