BOC sinita ng COA sa pagpapalusot sa P3.5B kargamento na ‘di sumailalim sa physical inspection

MANILA, Philippines- Pinayagan ng Bureau of Customs (BOC) na makapasok ang 2,416 shipments na may assessed duties and tax rate na aabot ng P3.5 bilyon, nang walang physical inspection, ayon sa Commission on Audit (COA).

Sa annual audit report ng BOC para sa 2022, sinabi ng state auditors na dapat prinoseso ang 2,416 shipments sa red lane, kung saan rekisitos ang physical inspection. Sa halip ay prinoseso umano ang mga ito sa green, yellow at orange lanes.

“A review of the e2m (electronic to mobile) database of consumption entries and the result of the  conducted walkthrough and interview of the operations of the RMO (Risk Management Office) revealed the following: verification disclosed that 2,416 consumption entries with assessed duties and taxes of P3.558 billion have been inappropriately tagged as “green, yellow or orange” in the selectivity system and the goods were released without  conducting the mandatory 100 percent physical inspection, inconsistent with the prescribed and fixed criteria,” pahayag ng COA.

Naglalaman ang 2,416 shipment entries na dapat sana ay idinaan sa red lane para sa physical inspection ng:

• 1,846 entries sa green lane na may assessed duties and taxes value na P3.24 billion;

• 240 entries sa yellow lane na may assessed duties and taxes value na P26 million; at 

• 330 entries sa orange lane na may assessed duties and taxes value na P289.7 million.

“Subjecting these importations to 100 percent examination facilitates  the process of evaluation and assessment and likewise validates that the nature,  origin, condition, quantity, and value of the goods are in accordance with the details and specifications contained in the goods declarations. Tagging the said importations under the “red” lane category is vital for the Bureau to monitor and perform the required inspection of goods to ensure that no prohibited importations were allowed to enter the country and that duties and taxes were paid correctly,” sabi ng COA.

“The release of shipments which should have been tagged as “red” without 100 percent physical inspection poses the risks that misdeclaration/undervaluation of goods and importations of prohibited goods may not be detected, thereby affecting the revenue generation and border protection functions of the Bureau to the disadvantage of the government,” patuloy ng ahensya.

Bukod dito, inihayag ng COA na ang mga kargamento na may assessed duties and taxes na P38.510 billion ay isinailalim naman sa “unecessary” inspection/scanning at iba pang cargo clearance procedures ng BOC.

“Analysis of the e2m database of consumption entries and validation of the application of the active fixed criteria also revealed that 45,677 consumption entries with assessed duties and taxes of P38.51 billion were found to have been inappropriately tagged, inconsistent with the prescribed and provided fixed criteria,” anito.

Sa 45,677 shipments na “unnecessarily subjected to stringent clearance,” binanggit ng COA na 26,029 ang dapat na natukoy sa green, 1,453 ang yellow, at 18,195 ang green o yellow.

“The above table shows that these shipments were not categorized under any criteria that require physical inspection, x-ray scanning, or document examination but were tagged as “Yellow”, “Orange” or “Red.” Those tagged as  “Red” or “Orange” require that those shipments be held at the port to undergo the stringent process of x-ray scanning and/or physical inspection. These shipments, unless qualified under specific criteria, should have been tagged as “Green.” As a result, importers may incur costs of time delays or arrastre, wharfage, and demurrage charges,” sabi ng state auditors.

“Unnecessary inspection/scanning and stringent process of cargo clearance procedures for low risk shipments impedes the movement of cargoes and contributed to additional costs (e.g. arrastre, wharfage and demurrage charges) to importers due to time delays and does not support the achievement of BOC’s mandate on trade facilitation,” patuloy nito.

Sa ulat, sinabi ng COA na sumang-ayon ang BOC sa rekomendayon na nag-aatas sa pinuno ng Risk Management Office of the BOC na busisiin ang lahat ng consumption entries na nagkakahalaga ng mahigit P42 billion na mali ang pag-tag at ipaliwanag ang hindi pagsunod sa fixed criteria.

Sa kasalukuyan ay wala pang komento ang BOC ukol dito. RNT/SA