Workers arrange sacks of rice at a warehouse in Taguig City on Tuesday. The Department of Agriculture announced that the Philippines is now one of the top rice producers in the world. However, the El Niño’s effects might affect rice production targets this year. (MNS photo)
MANILA (Mabuhay) — The government generated over P68 million in revenues from the public auction of the 118 containers of smuggled Thai rice it seized last year, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) said on Wednesday.
“Fourteen bidders participated the auction held at Manila International Container Port. The auction generated an actual revenue of P68,450,280.00,” the BOC said in an e-mailed statement.
The shipments were consigned to Calumpit Multi-Purpose Cooperative and arrived on separate occasions in November and December. These were then seized due to the failure to secure the necessary import permits from the National Food Authority.
The first lot with 56 twenty-foot containers—44 white long grain and 12 round grain —of Thai rice amounted to P34.3 million.
Meanwhile, the second lot with 62 twenty-foot containers of long grain Thai white rice amounting to P34.122 million.
According to the BOC, the proceeds of the auction will be held in trust pending the appeal of Calumpit Multi-Purpose Cooperative to recover their importations.
“We have to expedite this auction proceedings because we are taking into consideration the preservation of the quality of rice to be put up in auction,” said Gerry Macatangay, MICP Auction and Cargo Disposal Division Chief. (MNS)