21 nations send aid via Cebu

CEBU, Philippines - At least 21 countries whose relief goods were brought to the country through the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) have already turned over their assistance to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-7.

Based on Bureau of Customs (BOC)-Mactan Sub-port records, 3.61 million kilograms of relief goods, majority of which came through Dubai, were brought through the Mactan airport and the Mactan Benito Ebuen Air Base, as of last Monday.

Relief goods from other countries have also arrived but processing of their documents was still ongoing as of press time.

A one-stop shop has been established at the Mactan International Port building at the airport to fast-track the releasing of relief goods.

Bureau of Customs, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Office of Civil Defense, and Department of Finance personnel manned the one-stop shop.

Lawyer Paul Alcazaren, Mactan sub-port collector, said their records show that the relief goods were valued at US$27.93 million, US$4 million of which arrived through Dubai.

The duties and taxes of the relief goods that supposedly totaled over P430,000 were waived by the government.

Alcazaren also denied that they imposed and collected taxes on the relief goods. He said, though, that they only collected P545.00 representing customs documentary stamps (P265), import processing fees (P250), forms and informal entry fee (P15) and permit to deliver imported goods (P15), which are mandatory.

He said they already identified the person responsible of spreading false information through social media that they are collecting taxes from relief goods other countries donated that arrived in Cebu.

Alcazaren assured that all relief goods that came through the BOC-Mactan sub-port were properly documented and that they work 24 hours a day just to fast-track the releasing of papers.

The relief goods, once received by the BOC, are released to the DSWD, whose officials are closely coordinating with the Philippine Air Force, which is responsible in transporting them to the affected provinces.

Major General Romeo Poquiz, commander of the Philippine Air Force Second Air Division based at the Mactan Benito Ebuen Air Base, said United States of America helicopters also helped them in transporting relief goods.—(FREEMAN)