Bureau of Customs (BOC) Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno warned local importers and businesses to quickly withdraw their perishable cargo from national ports to prevent severe food waste, secure government taxes, and stop dangerous cargo build-ups inside shipping yards.
Neoimuceno said he has issued Notices of Delinquency with Final Demand to all companies with unclaimed or unpaid cargo to prompt immediate action and compliance with payment of duties and taxes.
The sudden crackdown followed a June 10 joint port inspection conducted by the BOC and Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan at the Manila International Container Port where 26 abandoned containers were discovered with fresh red onions that had completely rotted and sprouted due to long delivery delays.
“This is a reminder for importers and consignees to promptly process the release of their shipments. Layunin natin na mapabilis ang cargo clearance habang napoprotektahan ang kita ng pamahalaan at tuloy-tuloy ang daloy ng kalakalan. Mahalaga rin na maiwasan ang pagkasira ng mga perishable goods dahil sa delays,” Nepomuceno said.
To keep a close eye on the situation, Nepomuceno ordered all district collectors to submit detailed cargo tracking reports to his office through the Assessment and Operations Coordinating Group (AOCG) every 15 days.