THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) Port of Cebu is still adopting the old system of mandatory inspection on balikbayan boxes, citing lack of implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the new customs law.
Lawyer Lemuel Erwin P. Romero, deputy district collector for assessment of the BOC Port of Cebu, said that Republic Act 10863, or The Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA) is not yet in effect because the IRR are yet to be issued.
“Thus, the old rules on the balikbayan boxes still apply,” Romero said.
He said that as per Customs Memorandum Order (CMO) 27-2015, all balikbayan boxes from overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) shall not be subjected to physical inspection but shall undergo X-ray scanning.
“Only those alerted boxes shall undergo 100 percent examination,” Romero said.
Under CMO 79-90, Romero said that balikbayan boxes with value of $500 or less and not of commercial quantity shall not be subjected to duties and taxes.
Romero also said that under Section 105, paragraph F of CMO-79-90, personal effects accompanying a returning resident is exempt from taxes if the value is P10,000 or less.
Collector Gerry Campo of the Sub-Port of Mactan said that there are no balikbayan boxes passing through within his jurisdiction because these are mostly consolidated in one cargo container.
Campo said that consolidated balikbayan boxes sent through international forwarders like U-Freight or LBC will pass through Clark International Airport before it will finally reach Cebu.
Romero said that he will research to come up with an estimated monthly volume of balikbayan boxes that regularly arrived in Cebu.
However, Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, who is seeking to institutionalize “no opening” of balikbayan box policy, said that some 400,000 balikbayan boxes arrived in the country every month.
A press statement emailed to Sun.Star Cebu by Pimentel’s office stated that if he will have his way, a permanent “no opening” policy on balikbayan boxes should be adopted in recognition of the significant contribution of OFWs to the national economy.
“The balikbayan box represents the love and care of OFWs for their families,” said Pimentel after filing Senate Bill 1168 to institutionalize the “expanded balikbayan program.”
Pimentel called the proposed legislation “a small measure of assistance in view of the tireless efforts of OFWs, who work selflessly abroad and endure long separation and loneliness from their loved ones.”
Pimentel said balikbayan boxes would only be subjected to non-instrusive methods of inspection by BOC, using trained canine units, x-ray and inspection systems or other similar technologies.
