BOC – Page 2 – Maniolas

Lawmaker urges gov't to unload P1.4-B smuggled rice to soften prices

News

Jul 202013

Lawmaker urges gov't to unload P1.4-B smuggled rice to soften prices

A lawmaker is urging government to unload its large inventory of impounded smuggled rice, worth some P1.4 billion, to soften the staple’s price, which has temporarily gone up by P2 per kilo due to seasonal factors. “Government should draw on some 600,000 sacks of confiscated rice to thwart any upward pressure on prices,” said LPG-MA Rep. Arnel Ty, House trade and industry committee member. “Right now, these highly perishable sacks of seized rice from Vietnam are just wasting away,” he said in a press release on Sunday. His remarks came shortly after the Bureau of Customs (BOC) reported the theft of at least 100 sacks of smuggled rice stashed in a container yard at the Cebu International Port. Ty is counting on the Department of Finance (DOF) and the Department of Agriculture (DA) to resolve the impasse over the disposition of smuggled rice shipments. The sacks of smuggled rice are in the custody of the BOC, which is under the supervision of the DOF. The Customs claimed, however, it has no choice but to sell the contraband at a competitive public auction. But the National Food Authority (NFA), which is under the DA, has offered to buy the sequestered rice at a negotiated price. “The NFA should be allowed to purchase the rice from the BOC under an agency-to-agency contract. Then the NFA should turn around and release the rice into the open market. This will boost supply and ease prices,” Ty said. An agency-to-agency agreement would be an acceptable Read More …

Seminar set on Customs tax audit

Economy

Jul 172013

MANILA, Philippines – The Center for Global Best Practices, in collaboration with Sycip Salazar Hernandez and Gatmaitan Law Offices, is holding a pioneering seminar titled ‘Best Practices in Handling Customs Tax Audits & Remedies’, Aug. 7, at the Peninsula Manila, Makati City, Philippines. This special program is designed to help importers learn how to deal fairly and squarely with the Bureau of Customs (BOC). Empower yourself and your organization by knowing about the importers rights that matter, understand the BOC’s basis of assessment/ audit to save you on unnecessary taxes, know what to do incase of warrants and seizures, and learn how to craft letters to challenge the valuations/ under-declaration charges imposed by the BOC. This solutions-oriented program will tackle comprehensively the administrative, judicial, procedural and substantive remedies to problems encountered by importers on issues of customs tax and duties with the BOC. The expert practitioners in this field will share their best practices, important lessons, real stories, updates and cases decided by the Court of Tax Appeals and Supreme Court. For more details and a complete list of seminars, check www.cgbp.org. You may also call (02) 556-8968/ 69 in Manila; (032) 512-3106/ 07 in Cebu; or (074) 423-5148 in Baguio. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 This one-day event will feature Domingo G. Castillo, expert practitioner in this topic and partner in the largest law firm in the country, SyCip Salazar Hernandez & Gatmaitan Law Offices.

BOC conducts audit of luxury car distributors

Economy

May 052013

BOC conducts audit of luxury car distributors

MANILA, Philippines – The Bureau of Customs (BOC) expects to release the result of the audit of imports of luxury car distributors soon. Customs commissioner Rozzano Rufino Biazon told reporters in a chance interview the BOC is conducting an audit of all luxury car importers to check possible undervaluation of vehicles brought in to the country. The results of the audit, he added, are expected to be out soon. “We’re just waiting for the report from the post entry audit group of the BOC,” he said. In March, he said a post-audit entry of vehicles imported by PGA Cars Inc. was being conducted amid uncertainties over declarations made by the firm. PGA Cars is the distributor of Porsche and Audi vehicles. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 Biazon said PGA Cars has already submitted its books of accounts to the agency. “They had to comply, otherwise we can suspend their import license,” he said. He noted that books of accounts are needed for the audit as such provide more information compared to documents presented at the port of entry which only show the declared value of the units being brought in. “Remember, we signed up to the WTO (World Trade Organization) agreement on adopting the transaction value method. The price agreed upon by buyer and seller, that is the transaction value. But the books of accounts show more data, for example, what costs they reported to the Bureau of Internal Revenue,” he said. Apart from PGA Cars, Read More …

BOC inks pact with Russia, Netherlands

News

Apr 292013

By Jerry E. Esplanada Philippine Daily Inquirer 3:52 am | Tuesday, April 30th, 2013 MANILA, Philippines—The Russian Federation and the Netherlands have joined the growing list of countries that have forged customs cooperation agreements with the Philippines. Commissioner Ruffy Biazon said this would boost the Bureau of Customs’ (BOC) campaign against all forms of smuggling, commercial fraud and transnational crimes. He said the agreements would initiate information exchanges for the benefit of all countries and provide assistance in the areas of trade statistics, customs law enforcement, human resource development, technical know-how and trade facilitation. In a text message to the Inquirer on Monday, Biazon said these were the second and third agreements entered into by the BOC since he assumed office in September 2011. “The first agreement, which involved Mexico, was signed last year,” he said. Biazon disclosed the BOC was holding exploratory talks and negotiations for similar arrangements with a number of nations. He did not identify the countries. “We’ve had similar agreements with the United States, South Korea, Australia, China, Taiwan and Israel. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) also has multilateral agreements, which we are a part of,” he said. Borders divide, customs connect Citing the World Customs Organization motto, “Borders divide, customs connect,” Biazon said the country’s agreement with Moscow “is expected to enhance cooperation between the customs agencies of the Philippines and Russia.” “The cooperation agreement between the two countries is expected to prevent breaches of customs laws and protect their economic, fiscal, social Read More …

BOC inks pact with Dutch counterpart

Economy

Apr 252013

MANILA, Philippines – The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has signed an agreement with its counterpart agency in the Netherlands to boost trade, border control and protection between the two countries. Customs Commissioner Ruffy Biazon said the agreement is intended to strengthen the application of customs laws and enhance information sharing between the two countries as part of their fight against smuggling. The accord opens up the communication line between the Customs agencies of the Philippines and the Netherlands in terms of addressing the problems on cross-frontier trafficking of illicit goods ranging from narcotic drugs, hazardous goods, endangered species and other contraband commodities that could pose danger to society. The most salient feature of the agreement is the establishment of a working co-operation between the two countries in putting-up the parameters for the accurate valuation and assessment of customs duties and taxes on all goods shipped between the Philippines and the Netherlands. The agreement has practically tightened the customs operational procedures between the Philippines and the Netherlands, eventually translating in more revenue collection for all trade between the two countries. Apart from border protection, Biazon said the mutual cooperation is part of the BOC’s overall plan to enhance the country’s trade facilitation with the global economy and regain public’s trust in the agency. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 Just recently, the Philippines and Russia signed an agreement on mutual administrative assistance in customs matters. The landmark agreement would establish the connectivity of the two customs administrations in Read More …

Lawmakers mixed on BOC abolition

Economy

Apr 142013

MANILA, Philippines – Lawmakers are backing a proposal to replace the Bureau of Customs (BoC) with a “professional” institution run by private officials and employees in a bid to stamp out smuggling and cleanse the bureau. Rep. Winston Castelo (2nd District, Quezon City) said he always believes in the privatization of certain government functions for reasons of efficiency and transparency. “This is a proposal that requires thorough studies and careful evaluation. It can turn custom functions upside down but is worth exploring. We have to keep an open mind,” Castelo said. On the other hand, Rep. Luzviminda Ilagan (Party-list, Gabriela) said that by just abolishing the BoC and replacing it with another agency may not solve the real problem. “The corruption in the customs is already an urban legend. It is systemic,” Ilagan said. Ilagan said the best solution to curb corruption in the bureau is to uproot the oldies, cleanse the agency and get committed workers. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 Ilagan also underscored that President Benigno S. Aquino III should get down to work if he really wants to see the fulfillment of his tuwid na daan theme. “If he continues to see no evil, hear no evil or speak no evil about this agency, he should stop mouthing his tuwid na daan and get down to work,” Ilagan said. The Bureau of Customs has been under fire in recent days, with reports on rampant smuggling of oil through special economic zones and agricultural Read More …

BOC asks Laos Embassy to justify importation of 3 exotic sports cars

News

Feb 262013

BOC asks Laos Embassy to justify importation of 3 exotic sports cars

Philippine Daily Inquirer 3:40 am | Wednesday, February 27th, 2013 MANILA, Philippines—The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has asked the embassy of Laos to justify its duty-free importation of three high-end sports cars—a Ferrari Spider and two Lamborghini Aventadors. Customs Commissioner Rufino Biazon told the Inquirer the BOC at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) had declared the three exotic cars as “abandoned” since their consignees had not processed their papers since the vehicles arrived in November last year, or more than the 30-day limit to claim them. “The official and full report is being prepared by district collector (Carlos) So but offhand, unofficially, it’s confirmed that the Lao embassy is acknowledging the shipments,” said Biazon in an interview. An official of the Lao Embassy said it had submitted its reply to BOC and declined to discuss the matter. A source in the BOC said the Spider and Aventadors were supposed to be delivered to different consignees at the same address: 34 Lapu-Lapu St., Magallanes Village, Makati City, care of the Embassy of Laos. Since they arrived on Nov. 28, nobody has come forward to claim the cars after BOC agents questioned why diplomats would buy fast cars as their service vehicles. Biazon said the BOC would auction off the Ferrari and Lamborghinis if the Lao embassy fails to justify the use of its duty-free perk to bring in the pricey vehicles. “An order of abandonment was already issued. It is a step closer to seizure. The embassy says there’s a Read More …

BOC posts collection surplus of P200 M

Economy

Feb 132013

MANILA, Philippines – The Bureau of Customs is off to a good start, posting a collection surplus of over P200 million in January this year, the first time under Ruffy Biazon’s watch. The BOC exceeded its collection target of P24.3 billion for January with total collections reaching P24.5 billion. The figure is P2.51 billion higher than the same period in 2012. The higher collection was attributed to the reorganization of key Customs personnel in the early part of January. Biazon, who took over the reins of the BOC in 2011, is hopeful the agency will surpass or at least meet its collection target for the year of P340 billion with the full completion of its computerization program. “We may have found the right chemistry among our officials to enable us to meet our collection target for 2013, although it remains to be seen as we progress through the year. As I have said when I announced my 2013 reconfiguration program for the BOC, the purpose of the program is to place the right people at the right assignments, where they can best deliver their talents, experience and training in revenue generation,” Biazon said. The BOC last exceeded its collection target in March 2011 under the leadership of Angelito Alvarez who stepped down from office. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 Biazon is hopeful the agency will surpass or at least meet its collection target for the year of P340 billion with the full completion of its computerization Read More …

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