THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) has reported that the master plan for the implementation of the fuel marking system in 2019 will be submitted by the end of November, and that it has already drafted the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) together with the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).
The fuel marking system has been cited as crucial in the drive against smuggling of oil in the country, with the bureau being the lead agency to implement the scheme. The fuel marking system is also seen to plug revenue losses from the smuggling of the product.
Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III earlier instructed Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo B. Guerrero to beef up the drive against oil smuggling and cigarette-making machines.
The BOC said it has drafted the IRR for the fuel marking program alongside the BIR, while the joint-venture of Switzerland-based Sicpa SA and SGS Philippines, the winning bidder for the fuel marking system, will have to submit the master plan in 30 days from the signing of the contract on October 30.
The fuel marking will be imposed on all petroleum products that are refined, manufactured, or imported into the Philippines, which are subject to the payment of duties and taxes, such as but not limited to gasoline, denatured alcohol used for motive power, kerosene and diesel fuel oil.
The system will also monitor all locally refined finished oil products to ensure correct payment of corresponding excise and value-added taxes (VAT).
In terms of cigarette-making machines entering the country, Guerrero was said to be making a request to Chinese officials in line with not allowing the exportation of cigarette-making machines from China without proper and complete documentation.
Last month the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) reported that the government is looking to implement the fuel marking system starting 2019, after it awarded the bidder for the project late in October.
It was reported that only the joint venture between Sicpa SA and SGS Philippines Inc. will bid, with Authentix Inc. expressing regret that it can no longer participate in the bidding for the project.
Earlier in the month, Dominguez expressed confidence that the new Customs commissioner can fulfill the President’s wish to rid the country’s second-largest revenue collector of corruption.
Dominguez told reporters that he is confident that Guerrero can rid the bureau of corruption, strengthen trade facilitation, as well as collect the necessary revenues needed for the government’s various projects and programs.
Meanwhile, the BOC also reported that it will be sending anew rice donations to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) following the interception at the Port of Zamboanga of some 30,090 bags of undocumented rice in Zamboanga City.
The BOC had previously donated thousands of bags of rice and other goods to help in the government’s anti-poverty and disaster relief operations, especially for the victims of Typhoon Ompong.