The Bureau of Customs destroyed confiscated illegally imported used clothing or ukay-ukay worth P800,000 in Guiguinto, Bulacan.
Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña said the contraband was shredded and disposed of at the facility of EPY-ECO Auction and Waste Disposal Services—the accredited service provider of the Port of Subic for the condemnation of contrabands and expired goods.
The used clothing was abandoned in favor of the government, in view of the aggressive efforts and vigilance on the part of the BoC to man the ports against contrabands that are detrimental to public health and welfare.
The destruction of the seized goods was led by the District Collector of the Port of Subic, Segundo Sigmundfreud Barte.
He said that while the commercial proliferation of ‘ukay-ukay’ is popular, Republic Act 4653 prohibits the importation thereof, to safeguard public health.
Lapeña said that condemnation of seized goods will now be made public as part of transparency efforts of the Bureau.