Customs chief urged to act vs China steel imports

THE PHILIPPINE Iron & Steel Institute (PISI) asked new Customs Commissioner Nicanor E. Faeldon to enforce the alert order issued by his predecessor on a shipment of deformed steel bars from China.

“[We] respectfully request for the enforcement of the standing order by former Commissioner Alberto D. Lina and a thorough review of the entry, including recall of import entry, and a stop to the release of the cargo,” PISI President Roberto M. Cola said in a July 1 letter to the new Customs chief.

On June 6, the Bureau of Customs had issued a memorandum of legal service, saying it would keep its alert order on the deformed steel bars and would issue a warrant of seizure and detention if needed.

In his letter to Mr. Faeldon, Mr. Cola cited media reports as saying the shipment was ordered released by Subic Customs officials.

However, in a phone interview on Monday, Mr. Cola clarified that the imports have not been released yet.

In April, PISI reported to the Department of Trade and Industry — Bureau of Philippine Standards (DTI-BPS) and the Bureau of Customs that the 5,000 metric tons of rebars imported by Mannage Resources Trading Corp. did not have an import commodity clearance (ICC) certificate, conditional release or certificate of exemption.

On April 18, DTI-Zambales Provincial Office issued a “provisional” ICC for the shipment. However, three days later, Customs Deputy Commissioner for Intelligence Group (IG) Jessie D. Dellosa issued the alert order “due to lack of permit.” —