Official urges faster release of rice for Leyte town

CEBU, Philippines - "Inyuha bang pamatyon ang taga Isabel, Leyte sa kagutom? (Are you letting the residents of Isabel, Leyte die of hunger)?"

This was the question of Ramon Tan, the president of the Association of Barangay Councils in Isabel for the Bureau of Customs - Cebu.

In a conversation with The Freeman yesterday, Tan questioned why the BOC still has not released the 16,000 bags of rice that the BOC - Cebu has decided to give the victims of super typhoon Yolanda.

"Unsay gusto nila?, mag-martsa ang tanang taga Isabel, Leyte adto sa Customs para magpakilo-oy nila (What do they want to happen? Would they want Isabel residents to march to Customs and beg)?" Tan said.

Tan also happens to be the vice president for port operations of Philippine Phosphate Fertilizer, the consignee of the shipment.

BOC-Cebu district collector Roberto Almaden, in a separate interview, said they are still waiting for the final decision from the Office of the Commissioner (OCOM).

"We are awaiting final decision from OCOM. We seek clear guidance on the matter," Almaden said.

Tan said their supply of relief goods is slowly depleting and the 16,000 bags of rice would be a big relief for the 40,000 typhoon survivors in the town.

Just yesterday, Philphos, which owns a manufacturing plant in the town, gave four kilos to each of 11,000 families.

"Wala mi labot ana kung lokal o imported ba ang maong bugas. Ang importante nga gipalit na namo sa Manila ug gibayran sa kantidad nga P27.1 milyones (We don't care if  the rice is imported or not. What's important is we bought that from Manila and paid P27.1 million)," Tan added.

The rice shipment on board MV Queen of Joy was supposed to go to Isabel, Leyte but dropped by in Cebu to get the 12,000 relief packs from Senator Alan Peter Cayetano intended for distribution to typhoon victims in the town and neighboring municipalities.

But BOC prevented MV Queen of  Joy from sailing, including the release of the shipment, after Philphos failed to present pertinent documents when it arrived at Pier 2 in Cebu City on December 1, 2013.

Customs required Philphos to submit a certificate of donation from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and shipping permit from the National Food Authority (NFA).

These documents, including the receipt of payment to the rice mill in Manila, were already submitted last week but until now, the shipment is still on hold.

Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III appealed to BOC to release the shipment. Tan said they also asked Cebu City Michael Rama to appeal before Customs for the immediate release of the said shipment.

Earlier, Isabel, Leyte Mayor Marcos Gregorio Cerillo said the rice shipment is not smuggled, contrary to Customs' suspicion.

Tan added, it is impossible that Philphos, which is in the business for over 30 years now, would engaged in rice smuggling, considering that their business is fertilizer manufacturing.

Both insisted that the 16,000 bags of  rice, which is good for one month consumption, is a relief goods for the town's typhoon victims. — (FREEMAN)