Customs ramps up release of abandoned goods

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) is expediting the disposal of forfeited and abandoned goods in a bid to generate revenues and improve overall trade facilitation.

Customs Commissioner Yogi Filemon Ruiz has directed all ports in the country to fasttrack the disposition of overstaying goods under the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.

Following this, the BOC generated P237.38 million from close to 900 overstaying containers that were disposed off through public auction, condemnation, and donation to other government agencies.

This, as BOC, through the Assessment and Operations Coordinating Group (AOCG) and the Port of Manila (POM), implements measures to ensure effective trade facilitation programs and practices in the country.

The BOC also formed a task group to work with the Association of International Shipping Lines (AISL) and truckers on issues relative to the return of empty containers, both at the terminal yards and at designated empty container yard depots.

A study is also being undertaken on the proposal to automate the monitoring of movement of containers, particularly its return to the concerned shipping lines to further prevent congestion.

The BOC and the AISL are implementing the Empty Loadout Shipping Agreement (ELSA) wherein vessels docked at the Manila South Harbor will load empty containers already in the terminal yard regardless of which shipping line owns the containers.

The ELSA initiative is one of the measures implemented at the various ports to free up the terminal yards of empty containers for loadout and repositioning in other countries, and to maintain a healthy yard utilization rate.

It should be noted that empty container yard depots are required to undergo an accreditation process for more effective supervision and control by the BOC.

To ensure that only legitimate importers and brokers transact with the government, the Customs automatically suspends their accreditation when they are issued warrants of seizure and detention.

The Customs also continues to operate the electronic tracking of container cargo to ensure the integrity of the transfer of containers and prevent diversion.

This allows real-time monitoring of inland movements of containerized goods using a technology-enabled system to secure its transport to the intended destination.