Smuggled imported used clothes still escapes BOC's eyes

THE country’s porous borders is one of the challenges that the Bureau of Customs (BOC) faces when dealing against smuggled imported used clothes locally known as ukay-ukay.

Since 1966, through Republic Act 4653, “the commercial importation of textile articles commonly known as used clothing and rags,” is prohibited nationwide. The law was made with the primary objectives to “safeguard the health of the people and maintain the dignity of the nation.”

More than five decades after this prohibition was made into law, ukay-ukay is still widely available nationwide and people taking pride that their clothes are bought very cheaply even though it’s an authentic imported brand of clothing. The wide array of ukay-ukay stalls anywhere in the country had forgotten that a law is being violated.

According to BOC Davao District Collector lawyer Dino Austria, there are a number of recorded apprehensions made by BOC from the ports under them wherein smugglers attempt to slip through these imported used clothes, bags, and shoes. However, as is still apparent today, the apprehensions have not fully eradicated, or at least lessened, the ukay-ukay practice of the Filipinos.

Austria pointed out that in Luzon, the centralized and the most popular ukayukay area is in Baguio City although there are no ports in the city. This, he said, is a proof of the many other possible passageways that smugglers get their items through away from the watch of BOC. He said the geographical landscape of the country is one of the challenges they are facing.

“Before, we have apprehended people slipping through ukay-ukay at Panabo City. BOC Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon was here then. For these acquired ukay-ukay items, we have machine that does the shredding to fully destroy it,” Austria said.

With the very wide operation of ukay-ukay still going on despite of it being illegal for more than 50 years, Austria said they continue to apprehend those they are able to catch in the ports.

“How do you know where it came from? Then, how do you persecute? It creates a legal quagmire that we can’t resolve. So the best way for us is to cut it at the source. And the source that is within our control is our ports. That is why, in our ports, when we have intelligence that there is used clothing in this particular container, we issue alert orders,” he added.

In 2015 it was reported that a P52.05 million worth of used garments was discovered in Misamis Oriental in about 21 containers. These were reported to be from Korea and Malaysia.

There had been previous attempts and bills passed to legalize the trade and purchase of ukay-ukay, however it has not prospered such as the House Bill 4055 explaining that the industry can create an estimated P700 million revenue for the country.