The Bureau of Customs (BOC) clarified on Thursday that there is no delay with the issuance of clearance for rice imports in all ports nationwide, amid reports that the spike in rice prices was due to the delays in the release of rice shipments by the bureau.
Customs Commissioner Isidro S. Lapeña said that he has even ordered all district collectors to expedite the processing of clearances of essential food, such as rice, sugar, pork and chicken.
“I would like to address the issue being reported that the spike in rice prices in the country was caused by the delays in the release of rice shipments by the Bureau of Customs. To set the record straight, I would like to clarify that there is no delay in the Customs clearance of rice imports in all ports. In fact, I have ordered all district collectors to expedite the processing of essential food, such as rice, sugar, pork and chicken, to aid the supply issue,” Lapeña said.
He admitted, though, that the delays in some instances may be caused by the lack of import permits coming from the National Food Authority (NFA). The Customs chief added that he had already sent a letter to the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the NFA requesting them to expedite the release of the import permits.
“It cannot be avoided that, in some instances, the Customs clearance procedure cannot be completed without the corresponding import permit from the NFA pursuant to NFA Memorandum Circular AO-2018-05-001. Knowing the importance and urgency to release these shipments, I have sent a letter of request to the DA and the NFA dated September 10 to expedite the release of the import permits since it cannot be released on our end without such permit,” Lapeña added.
Import permits issued by the NFA, he said, is very essential requirement in line with the clearance of rice shipments as this will make the release of rice shipments into the country to remain on schedule.
“This is how important NFA import permits are in the clearance of rice shipments. Prompt issuance of import permits by the NFA coupled by timely submission to the BOC will, in effect, make Customs clearance of rice shipments on schedule. I, together with the men and women of the BOC, am with the President in alleviating the current situation on the supply and price hike in our country’s staple grain,” he said.
On Tuesday Customs operatives, backed by a Philippine National Police (PNP) team, raided several warehouses in Marilao, Bulacan, after receiving information that large quantities of suspected smuggled rice with an estimated market value of P300 million were stashed.
A joint Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) and PNP team conducted the raid on seven warehouses at the Federal Corp. Compound in Barangay Ibayo, Marilao, Bulacan, where some 125,000 sacks of imported rice were discovered. Initial reports said the rice were imported from Thailand, China and India.
“I assure the public that we will closely coordinate with our private and public partners to be ready for the influx of cargoes for the holidays. We hope that in the coming months, the price of basic commodities will stabilize,” Lapeña added.