BOC: No more random checks of balikbayan boxes

MANILA, Philippines - The Bureau of Customs (BOC) will start implementing today its new guidelines in dealing with balikbayan boxes.

BOC commissioner Alberto Lina gave assurance there would be no random checks of the packages and any Customs personnel in violation of the new guidelines would be charged appropriately.

Lina signed the memorandum order “Revised Rules and Regulations on the Importation of Balikbayan Boxes” stating “balikbayan boxes of OFWs (overseas Filipino workers) shall not be subjected to random or arbitrary physical inspection. Instead they shall only undergo mandatory X-ray scanning.”

Lina signed the order last Aug. 27 that became effective today.

The order was implemented following public criticism on the random inspection of balikbayan boxes.

Customs officials said the inspection of balikbayan boxes was to curb smuggling of contraband and illegal drugs.

The policy was met by criticisms from various OFW groups, which said the BOC was barking up the wrong tree in its fight against smuggling.

The public backlash prompted President Aquino to order the BOC to suspend the inspection of balikbayan boxes and revise its procedures.

The BOC said the new order simplified the procedures in dealing with balikbayan boxes and to protect the legitimate interests of OFWs sending packages to their loved ones.

The order stated the mandatory X-ray scanning of container vans with balikbayan boxes would be done by personnel of the X-ray Inspection Project (XIP) at the designated examination area for preliminary examination of non-commercial inbound consolidated shipment.

In the event a shipment would be found suspicious, the XIP image analysis inspector shall identify the box with possible violations and recommend the issuance of an alert order.

Other balikbayan boxes with no violation would be segregated and provisionally released to allow its continuous processing.

The boxes which have been placed under alert shall be subjected to a 100 percent physical examination at the authorized examination area by a customs examiner in the presence of the apprehending officers, freight forwarder consolidator, representatives of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and/or a designated officer of an OFW association.

To avoid port congestion and for purposes of trade facilitation, Lina said the BOC may allow the full examination of the alerted shipments at the warehouse of the freight forwarder/consolidator upon submission of an Affidavit of Undertaking.

The BOC said they would beef up security and acquire K-9 units apart from installing close circuit television (CCTV) cameras for the authorized inspection/examination areas. – With Prinz Magtulis