Textile firms urge BOC to bar entry of used clothing

The Federation of Philippine Textile Industries (FOPTI) urged on Friday the Bureau of Customs to strictly enforce the law prohibiting the importation of used clothing to prevent the collapse of the local garment industry.

FOPTI secretary general Jesus Arranza said the continued importation of used clothing under the guise of donations is killing the industry, citing the recent closure of a number of garment factories in Alabang.

Republic Act 4653, Arranza said, makes it unlawful for any person, association or corporation to bring into the country textile articles commonly known as used clothing and rags, unless they come in as donations as certified by the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

But Arranza said the exemption to the ban is being abused. He pointed out that despite the prohibition, "ukay-ukay" business is proliferating which is indicative that used clothing are coming in as donations or in balikbayan boxes.

"The unabated entry of used clothing is slowly killing the local textile industry. This situation should be investigated by concerned government authorities before the last local textile firm that pays taxes and employ hundreds of workers shuts down," Arranza stressed.

Arranza said the "ukay-ukay business continues to proliferate which only means that the exemption to the ban is being abused by some importers who have apparently some connections in the DSWD.

Reports have it that more balikbayan boxes come from Hong Kong, Thailand and Indonesia than from the United States.

The reports were confirmed by Customs Deputy Commissioner Ray Allas, who said that overseas Filipino workers at the former Crown Colony appeared now to be the carriers of used clothing as they buy them from the Hong Kong-based Salvation Army at very cheap price.

Allas said the Bureau of Customs is now closely monitoring balikbayan boxes brought in by Filipino workers in commercial quantity to stop the entry of used clothing aimed at protecting the local textile industry.