Surplus group seeks exemption from ban on imports of used cars

The Surplus Importers and Brokers Association of the Philippines (SIBAP) appealed yesterday to President Arroyo to exclude its members from Executive Order 156 which bans the importation of second-hand vehicles, saying they only import spare parts and components.

SIBAP president Maria Zapata pointed out that the importation of replacement parts is legal under Central Bank Circular No. 1389 and, hence, should be excluded from EO 156, which took effect last month.

She also bewailed the negative effect of the ban on the group’s source of livelihood since their warehouse rental at the Bureau of Customs is now piling up after they failed to release their imported cargo as a result of the ban.

Zapata said that even the chief of the Import Division of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), lawyer Luis Catibayan, has called the attention of Customs Commissioner Antonio Bernardo on the non-inclusion of replacement parts from the ban as certified by the Board of Investment.

SIBAP is asking President Arroyo to intervene in their behalf since they are not importing used vehicles which are the main subject of EO 156.

The group expressed optimism it can get a positive clarificatory reply from Bernardo regarding the scope of EO 156 so their members can immediately work for the release of their cargo from the BOC warehouses.

"We have sent several letters to Commissioner Bernardo in connection with our problem in the release of our cargo, but he has not yet responded to our query. On the other hand, our expenses for the warehouse rentals keep on increasing daily," SIBAP auditor Peping Sandoval lamented.

Workers in the automotive industry had also staged a rally and appealed to President Arroyo to suspend the implementation of EO 156.

The 35,000-strong United Used Vehicle Workers Association (UUVWA) composed of mechanics, electricians, painters and welders asked President Arroyo to reconsider her directive in the light of the present economic hardship that threatens their only source of living.