Contraband used clothing donated to ‘Ompong’ victims
CEBU CITY—The Bureau of Customs (BOC) in the Port of Cebu on Friday donated more than P7 million worth of seized imported used clothing to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) office in Central Visayas.
The used clothing will be given to the victims of last month’s typhoon Ompong.
“Normally, the procedure is to condemn the seized goods. But we received a directive from the Malacañang to donate this to DSWD. This is not just here in Cebu, this will be done nationwide,” said Elvira Cruz, Cebu port district collector.
President Duterte issued the directive last September 21.
Cruz said the decision to donate the items had nothing to do with the backlash from Customs earlier decision earlier this month to destroy relief goods that were intended for the victims of Typhoon Yolanda.
“That’s a different situation. Those relief goods had to be destroyed since they were already infested and no longer usable,” Cruz said.
Cruz led yesterday’s opening of five shipping containers of used clothing at Cebu International Port.
The items came from Thailand. Two of the shipments arrived in Cebu in February 2017 and the other two last June 2017. The fifth shipment arrived in October 2017.
Each container were packed with used clothing worth P1.5 million, said Cruz.
Cruz said the shipments were seized for violation of Republic Act 4563, which bans the importation of used clothing
Officials of DSWD Central Visayas were on hand to receive the donation.
Grace Subong, DSWD acting regional director for administration, said they will coordinate with DSWD’s Central Office since the damage from Ompong in Central Visayas was minimal.
“We are open to donating the used clothing to victims of the landslide in Naga City. But the directive is specific that it should be donated to the victims of typhoon Ompong. That’s why we have to coordinate with the central office and wait for guidance,” Subong said.