MANILA -- Bureau of Customs, through the Auction and Cargo Disposal Division, conducted a turn over ceremony of imported foodstuff and footwear to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for donation to the victims of typhoon ‘Odette’ on Dec. 24, 2021.

The donated goods consist of 5,200 sacks of rice, 91,200 canned goods, and 81,200 pairs of footwear, which arrived at the Port of Batangas (POB), Manila International Container Port (MICP), and Port of Manila, respectively.

Decrees of Abandonment were issued declaring the 10x20 containers of Vietnam rice and 1x40 container of footwear as abandoned under Section 1129 of the Customs and Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA) after failing to file the corresponding goods declaration for the shipments within the prescribed period.

Meanwhile, the 2x20 containers of canned goods were seized and forfeited for violation of Section 1400 concerning Sections 117 and 1113 of CMTA.

The turn over ceremony was attended by Director Emmanuel P. Privado, Mr. Mark Poul B. Agner, and Mr. Jesrel J. Migrato of DSWD. For BOC’s part, Rey Leonardo B. Guerrero, Commissioner of Customs, Atty. Edward James A. Dy Buco, Deputy Commissioner of Assessment and Operations Coordinating Group, Donato B. San Juan, Deputy Commissioner of Internal Administration Group, and Raniel T. Ramiro, Deputy Commissioner of Intelligence Group were present. Atty. Ma. Rhea M. Gregorio, District Collector of POB, Romeo Allan Rosales, District Collector of MICP, together with Deputy Collectors Atty. Kriden Balgomera and Atty. Ma. Liza Sebastian and other key officials were also in attendance.

Privado, on behalf of the DSWD, expressed his heartfelt gratitude to BOC for the untiring support to the agency especially in the facilitation of foreign donations at this challenging time.

In his message, Guerrero stressed that the Bureau will continue to support the agency in safeguarding the interest of the public and will ensure the speedy processing of donations received by the country to respond to the needs of the Filipino people, especially at this critical time.

The disposal through the donation of the said goods is under Sections 1141 and 1149 of CMTA. (BOC)