THE establishment of temporary storages for overstaying and abandoned cargoes could create more problems that it could solve at the Port of Manila and Manila International Container Port, according to a lawmaker.
Muntinlupa City’s Rep. Ruffino Biazon, former chief of the Bureau of Custom, said Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon must heed the orders of President Rodrigo Duterte to cut red tape, since the bureau’s plan to put up temporary storages could only add another layer to bureaucracy.
Doing business must be short and simple at the BoC, Biazon said.
“The planned transfer of overstaying and abandoned cargoes is just a temporary answer. A more appropriate solution should be formulated,” he said.
He reacted to a draft Customs administrative order that shall pave the way for the implementation of Section 307 of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.
“It would be better to look for a permanent solution to be able to fast track the disposition of overstaying and abandoned goods,” he said.
The draft order seeks to allow the BoC to impose rates for storage services in identified Customs facilities and warehouses.
BoC drew flak from detractors, who said the new system could only breed corruption and trigger prices of commodities to go up.
He said the establishment of new storages is only band-aid solution.
“We should not be focusing on temporary solutions. We should find other ways for long-term and permanent remedies. If we are able to simplify and expedite the process of auctioning of the overstaying and abandoned cargoes, this would translate to additional revenues that the government can use for important programs for poor Filipinos,” he cited.