CEBU – The Bureau of Customs in Cebu said it is holding some 150 boxes of foreign donations that included used clothing intended for typhoon Yolanda survivors. The donations are currently at the Cebu International Port and awaiting orders from higher authorities whether to dispose them or not.
BOC-Cebu Chief of Staff, Atty. Kenneth Sesante said under Republic Act 4653, foreign donations or importations of used clothing are prohibited entry into Philippine shores to safeguard the health of the people.
He said RA 4653 enacted in June 17, 1966 is an Act to safeguard the health of the people and maintain the dignity of the nation by declaring it a national policy to prohibit the commercial importation of textile articles commonly known as used clothing and rags.
“By the end of the year, the used clothing will be condemned either by burying or burning them,” Sesante said.
Sesante said there is a guideline that exempts the condemnation of the foreign donations of used clothing and that is to give them to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
“But there is a standing order from DSWD Secretary Dinky Soliman not to accept donations of used clothing abroad,” Sesante said, adding that they have no choice but to dispose the items.
He said detailed guidelines released recently covering foreign donations, customs duties and claims on international donations among other related matters can now be accessed at their website customs.gov.ph.
Sesante also clarified that it is not their agency that caused the delayed release of foreign donations to Yolanda survivors resulting to the expiration of some perishable goods leaving them unfit to be given.
“The BOC-Cebu already waived its taxes and duties on foreign donations during the Yolanda relief operations,” Sesante said.
According to Sesante, the release of foreign shipments is delayed due to demurrage and storage fees which are just waived for five days. Oftentimes, shipments are not released due to incomplete documents so the consignee cannot get the foreign donated goods unless necessary documents are in order.
“And if the five-day has lapsed, the consignee already has to pay the cost which is computed per day per container,” he said. (Fayette C. Riñen)
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