A TRADE group is calling on the Bureau of Customs (BOC) to publish import prices of so-called frequently smuggled goods which, according to a study, cost the Philippines $25.8 billion in 2011 alone.
Fight Illicit Trade lead convenor Jesus Arranza, also the chairman of the Federation of Philippine Industries, said that publishing import prices of frequently smuggled goods will help ensure transparency and curb smuggling.
“One way of highlighting the menace of smuggling is for the customs bureau to publish the declared import prices of frequently smuggled goods. This is consistent with the BOC’s mandate under the Tariff and Customs Code to prevent and suppress smuggling and other customs fraud,” Arranza said in a news statement released on Friday.
He added that with the publication of these import prices, concerned citizens may be able to help by alerting authorities should they come across suspected smuggled products.
Arranza cited findings by the Washington, D.C.-based watchdog Global Financial Integrity (GFI) which indicated that a fourth of all goods imported into the Philippines were not reported to the BOC in 2011.
This translates to foregone revenues from duties and taxes amounting to some $25.8 billion.
The GFI’s analysis further revealed that from 1960 to 2011, $410.5 billion flowed through the Philippines as “illicit funds,” and out of this amount, $277.6 billion resulted from underreporting goods shipped into the Philippines.
4 comments
First, clean out the BOC rank, the most corrupt government agency, and to really prove that it is clean, practice transparency. Kudos to Arranza and his group for fighting illicit trade. This criminal offense of tax evasion undermines legit businesses and puts a higher burden on responsible tax payers.
Unless the BOC decides to get up their butts, groups like Fight IT don’t stand a chance against smuggling.
BOC should commit themselves to stop these illegal trade. Jesus Arranza and the Fight Illicit Trade group is taking an action to these problem, a much needed support and cooperation from the government should be given to fight illegal smugglers and tax evaders.
The BOC should work hand in hand with the Fight IT movement to curb illicit trade in the country. Sadly, sometimes the BOC itself are the ones covering up the problem instead of finding real solutions to it.