The Bureau of Customs (BoC) promised to facilitate the prompt release of rice shipments from ports.
Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio voiced the commitment of the agency after House Speaker Martin Romualdez, along with congressmen Erwin Tulfo and Edvic Yap, visited the Manila International Container Port to inspect rice shipments.
Rubio also vowed that BoC will work diligently to prevent disruptions in the rice supply chain and curtail illegal hoarding activities.
During the inspection on Wednesday, September 25, Rubio denied reports of port congestion, and said that all rice shipments have been cleared by Customs.
Rather than port-related issues, Rubio insists that the delay stemmed from the practice of importers in maximizing the 30-day allowable period to claim their shipments upon settlement of customs duties and taxes due thereon.
During a press conference last September 16, Agriculture Sec. Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. mentioned port congestion as among the reasons for rice prices remaining high.
The BoC and the Philippine Ports Authority both deny that ports in the country currently experience congestion.
