P1B worth of smuggled goods seized in Clark
Cworth LARK FREEPORT – An estimated P1 billion of raw tobacco materials and other items were seized in this Freeport following an operation led by Clark Development Corporation (CDC) Security Services Group (SSG).
Some 300 sacks of dried tobacco leaves, 1,470,000 pieces of invalid light blue Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) tax stamps, 147,000 pieces of invalid green BIR stamps, counterfeit tobacco products and trademarks placed in boxes, and equipment used for manufacturing cigarettes were found inside an aluminum truck-van with plate number RKY 632.
The said vehicle driven by Efren Taconto was apprehended by CDC Public Safety Department
“The arrival of OFWs via Subic is in line with the policy of the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) to impose a limit for all international airports in the country to accommodate just 1,500 passengers per day,” Eisma said yesterday.
Accordingly, PAL has distributed its flights to various airports to accommodate the market in accordance with its recovery plan, Eisma added.
“Once again, the Subic Bay Freeport Zone is in a unique position to be of service to the Filipino nation, particularly repatriated workers, who long to be home but were hindered by pandemic restrictions,” Eisma said.
The SBMA chief pointed out that Subic also began serving as a Crew-Change One-Stop-Shop hub since September last year, thereby helping bring home stranded Filipino seafarers or sending them back to work after some vacation.
“Our assistance, we are proud to add, would adequately help flesh out President Duterte’s policy that ‘no one should be left behind’,” Eisma added.
Under the PAL flights set-up, arriving passengers would be quarantined for seven to 10 days in Subic Bay Freeport hotels and accommodation facilities accredited by the Department of Tourism (DOT) and certified by the Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ).
Eisma said this would create “positive impact on local tourism that would also redound to the benefit of workers, business establishments, and service operators in our communit i es.”
Accommodation facilities outside the Freeport may also have the opportunity to take in any overflow that may ensue, she added.
“I really hope this will be the start of something good not only for the Subic airport and the hotels in the Freeport, but also for the bigger community that helps keep the Subic economy running,” Eisma also said.
Meanwhile, SBMA OIC-Senior Deputy Administrator for Operations Ronnie Yambao said his office has been in close coordination with the BOQ to ensure that all health safety protocols would be in place and strictly enforced at the Subic airport for the arrival of PAL flights.
The SBMA has also synchronized its efforts with the Bureau of Immigration (BI) and the Bureau of Customs (BOC) to ensure seamless processing of passengers, as well as with PAL to meet their requirements, Yambao said.
He pointed out that the Subic airport is being upgraded since last year to accommodate passenger, as well as corporate aircraft.
He said the Subic agency is implementing this year a P91.3-million package consisting of 12 projects to upgrade equipment and improve facilities in the Subic airport.
(Ric Sapnu)
P3,000 for the first runner up, P2,000 for the second runner up and P1,000 for the first runner up. Several prizes were also set for live stream viewers.
Championship games for the Esports event will be this Sunday, June 4. Each of the finalists will undergo swab testing courtesy of the board member before the actual games.