‘OVERSTAYING’ RICE IMPORTERS. Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu-Laurel Jr. warns to blacklist importers involved in the alleged overstaying of imported rice in ports in Manila during an ambush interview on Wednesday (Sept. 25, 2024). He, however, assured due process in investigating the reasons behind the overstaying. (PNA photo by Stephanie Sevillano)
MANILA – The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Wednesday warned importers allegedly involved in the overstaying of imported rice in ports in Manila.
This came after 888 shipping vans containing more than 20,000 metric tons (MT) of imported rice were reportedly overstaying, with some staying in the port for nine months.
"Definitely, kailangan i-blacklist iyong mga ganoong klaseng (we need to blacklist these kinds of) importers,” DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said in an ambush interview.
He said the DA’s efforts, in partnership with the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), should serve as a big warning against unscrupulous importers.
The agriculture chief, meanwhile, assured due process in investigating the reasons behind the “overstaying.”
“Of course, we have to really go look at ano ba nangyari para makita talaga (what really transpired). Maybe may justified reason naman (they have a justified reason) or whatever. We have to give fair ano din naman (process also)," Tiu Laurel said.
He, however, maintained that rice imports must be released seven days upon the shipment unloading.
The DA earlier lauded the PPA’s swift action against the possible hoarding of some consignees.
Meanwhile, PPA General Manager Jay Santiago said there are 530 containers yet to be pulled out by consignees, following the release of 300 containers over the weekend.
“Iyan pong mga overstaying na containers na yan ay pagdating po ng Oktubre ay ipagbibigay na po natin sa Department of Agriculture at ieendorso na po natin yan sa Bureau of Customs para madeklara na abandonado at ma-dispose na po nila (Those overstaying containers, come October, we will already notify the Department of Agriculture and endorse them to the Bureau of Customs to be declared abandoned and be subject to proper disposal),” he said in a separate radio interview.
For abandoned shipments, Tiu Laurel said rice imports may either be brought back to their country of origin or disposed of by destruction.
Abandoned
Santiago said the PPA would endorse to declare the rice shipments abandoned if these remain unclaimed by Oct. 1.
He noted that while there could be several reasons for the overstaying of rice shipments, their release has historically occurred at the same time as rice price hikes.
“Meron din po dyan na natuklasan namin na bago pa man ma-clear ay kinakamada din po nila yung timing po ng kanilang pagdedeklara sa BOC na parang doon nila dini-dribble din kung kailan nila ipa-file yung mga import entries nila (We also found that even before these shipments were cleared, they were also delaying the timing of their declaration with the BOC and their filing of import entries),” he said.
He reiterated that PPA ports have remained uncongested since 2016 and are not the reason for delayed shipments.
“Maaari pong may mga shipment na naaantala dahil din po sa kakulangan ng mga papeles na kanilang sinusumite sa mga awtoridad gaya ng Bureau of Customs or sa mga clearances po (There may be some delayed shipments due to lack of documentation submitted to the BOC or other clearances),” he said. (with a report from Raymond dela Cruz/PNA)
