Tag Archives: Bureau of Customs

OVERSEAS FILIPINO WORKERS DITCHING THE BALIKBAYAN BOX IN FAVOR OF SUITCASES TO AVOID CUSTOMS TAX

August 27, 2015 Pol Pinoy 1 Comment

NINOY AQUINO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles® ) – The Philippines’ Bureau of Customs (BOC) has come under very intense fire in recent weeks from overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) because of its recent announcement that balikbayan boxes will be opened and inspected to determine whether any of the items contained inside are subject to tax.

Balikbayan boxes are those corrugated cardboard boxes used by overseas Filipinos to ship gifts and household items for their families back home. Until recently, balikbayan boxes were free of inspection and customs tax.

In order to avoid inspection and customes duties, many OFWs have ditched the balikbayan box in favor of huge suitcases. They would rather bring their gifts with them when they travel back to the Philippines than have them sent through shipping companies and vendors. This way, they would be physically present when their luggages are inspected by Customs upon their arrival in Manila.

The new modus operandi is causing huge problems for the airlines because the multiple checked suitcases are creating long lines at airport counters. Airlines are also concerned about potential overloading of the aircraft.

It has also resulted in long lines at the arrival lounges at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and has prompted BOC to deploy more customs inspectors.

Well, BOC has brought this upon itself.

Business, Government, International

FILAM SHIPPING COMPANIES SUSPEND BALIKBAYAN BOX SERVICE IN PROTEST OF PHILIPPINE CUSTOMS NEW REGULATION

August 22, 2015 Pol Pinoy 1 Comment

SAN FRANCISCO, California (The Adobo Chronicles® ) – The Pilipino American Shippers’ Association (PASA) announced today that its members are suspending the shipping of all balikbayan boxes to the Philippines effective immediately. That could mean less corned beef, SPAM, chocolates and designer shoes or clothing for the families of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW). PASA includes top shippers like Forex, Atlas and LBC.

The move is in protest of the Philippine Bureau of Customs’ recent announcement that it will be inspecting balikbayan boxes arriving in the country from OFWs.

Until recently, OFWs could send balikbayan boxes to their loved ones in the Philippines, free of inspection or taxes.

New customs regulations require that the contents of a balikbayan box must not exceed US$500.00 in value. Canned goods, grocery items and other household effects must not exceed a dozen a kind, while apparel, whether used or new, must not exceed 3 yards per cut. Only one consignment per sender during a one-month period is allowed,” Customs Commissioner Bert Lina reminded Filipinos abroad.

Lina gave the reminder to warn smugglers who exploit the use of balikbayan boxes to circumvent the law. He also said that the BOC is allowed by law to check the boxes.

“Home appliances are not allowed unless these are consigned to returning Filipino residents and overseas contract workers….We will seize these prohibited shipments and revoke registrations of forwarders or consolidators if we find any violations,” Lina said.

OFWs used social media to express their anger over the announcement by BOC.

In the meantime, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) is reportedly preparing to issue new regulations that would impose a 30% tax on dollar remittances from OFWs.

“The BIR needs to find new ways to raise revenue and taxing dollar remittances from Filipinos living abroad would be a great way to meet the agency’s revenue goals,” BIR Commissioner Kim Henares said.

Government, Law Enforcement, Politics

PHILIPPINE SENATOR LEGISLATES FROM INSIDE HIS JAIL CELL

May 6, 2015 Pol Pinoy Leave a comment

MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles) – It is often said that misery needs company and that corrupt officials want to flock together. Such seems to be the case with one Filipino senator who continues to legislate as a member of the Senate despite being in jail.

Senator Jinggoy Estrada is in prison for charges of plunder and 11 counts of graft in connection with the alleged misuse of his Priority Development Assistance Fund, more popularly known as pork barrel.

Estrada has called on the Senate Blue Ribbon committee to conduct an inquiry into the alleged anomalous activities at the Bureau of Customs (BOC), particularly efforts to raise P3 billion in campaign funds for the administration party for the elections next year.

He filed Senate Resolution 1306, calling for the probe, after the opposition United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) alleged that the BOC was being forced to raise the amount for the Liberal Party’s campaign in 2016.

Resigned Customs chief John Philip Sevilla, however, had denied the allegation.

“There is a need to immediately investigate and address this matter to prevent the public money to be used for a particular person’s or group’s political agenda,” the resolution read.

Estrada’s critics immediately reacted to the proposed legislation by asking, “What about the public money you pocketed, Mr. Senator?”

The senator, who is the son of former president and now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada, mainstains that his proposal shows his continuing commitment to public service and his oath of office as an elected official. (Joseph Estrada was, himself, convicted and imprisoned for corruption during his term as president, but was later pardoned by his successor President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.)

It’s more fun in the Philippines.