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BOC to exempt PHILEXPORT members from 100 percent x-ray inspection |
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Coming to the rescue of crisis-embattled
exporters, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) is expected to approve the
exemption of members of the Philippine Exporters Confederation, Inc.
(PHILEXPORT) in good standing with the BOC from the 100 percent x-ray
inspection.
In her letter, Atty. Ma. Lourdes Mangaoang, head of the BOC inspection
project, said that she has made her 6th Indorsement to BOC
Commissioner Napoleon Morales for the exemption. Pending his approval,
she has already directed her field officers to start implementing the
exemption of PHILEXPORT members with no derogatory records with BOC from
the 100 percent X-ray inspection.
X-ray machines were installed in all ports of exit and entry of the
Philippines in compliance with the 9/11 Commission Act, a law passed by
the United States requiring all products exported to that country to pass
X-ray checks at their ports of origin.
The law, to be implemented in 2012, was passed as part of the US program
to prevent terrorist attacks in the US mainland.
The x-ray exemption for exports to the United States may be waived
however once the US starts implementing the 9/11 Act in 2012. Otherwise,
Philippine exports to this country will not be accepted.
The exemption may also be lifted if certain other markets require the
scanning as part of its security requirements for imports.
Atty. Mangaoang added that from the list of members that PHILEXPORT
submitted, eight were excluded from the exemption, as these firms had
“derogatory information in the records of the Bureau”. She added that any
PHILEXPORT member who gets a red mark in the future will likewise lose
the exemption privilege.
Only two weeks back, Customs Commissioner Napoleon Morales also informed
Mr. Ortiz-Luis that he has issued a clarificatory memorandum to all field
officers of the Bureau that exporters in the top 10 export priority list
of the Export Development Council (EDC) are allowed to process and sign
their export documents in compliance with the existing law.
In effect, this exempts exporters from engaging the services of brokers
and the paying broker’s fees. The memo was very timely, as it was
released as exporters continue to reel from declining orders.
Another recent concession was provided to exporters by the Philippine
Ports Authority when it reduced by 50 percent the export wharfage fees
effective September 13 up to December 31, 2009.-- Abe P. Belena,PHILEXPORT News and Features
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