THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) raised P1.077 billion in revenues from auctioning off overstaying cargoes last year.
In a statement, the bureau said proceeds came from the public auction of 1,898 containers of assorted items such as television sets, tiles and plywood, among others.
Based on separate data provided in the BOC’s annual report, the Manila International Container Port accounted for the bulk or 74 percent of total public auction revenues last year at P796.62 million It was followed by the Port of Manila (P138.416 million), the Port of Subic (P64.66 million), the Port of Davao (P52.279 million) and the Port of Batangas (P8.42 million).
Proceeds from the public auction conducted by the bureau reached P577.694 million and P742.42 million in 2019 and 2018, respectively.
Apart from conducting a public auction for overstaying containers, the BOC also condemned 1,346 containers while the remaining 270 containers were donated last year.
Overall, a total of 3,514 overstaying containers were disposed by the bureau from January to December 2020.
Overstaying containers are either seized or abandoned. The bureau said disposing overstaying containers would also decongest the port of its cargoes aside from generating additional revenues.
Under Customs Memorandum Order 10-2020, cargoes that have not been withdrawn within for more than 30 days from the date of discharge shall be tagged abandoned and, upon finality of the Decree of Abandonment, the Bureau shall then make the proper determination as to its disposition.
Further, Section 1141 of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act states that goods subject to disposition may be donated, declared for official use by the bureau, or sold at public auction, while goods suitable for shelter, or consisting of foodstuffs, clothing materials or medicines may be donated to Department of Social Welfare and Development.