Consignee, NFA say rice shipment legal

CEBU, Philippines -  The consignee of the imported rice that was put on hold by the Cebu Coast Guard Station last week denied allegations that the shipment was smuggled.

“The subject rice are not smuggled and that the shipment are legal,” said Cebu Lite Trading, the consignee of the 10,000 bags of rice.

The shipment arrived at Pier 8 in Mandaue City from Davao City on November 23.

Earlier, the Coast Guard suspected that the shipment was smuggled due to the absence of a shipping permit from the National Food Authority upon its arrival in Cebu.

Cebu Lite said that one of its workers in charge of the shipment overlooked  the requirement.

Cebu Lite has already complied with the requirement, including the shipping clearance fee from NFA.

Raul Chong, NFA-7 assistant regional director and concurrent provincial director, said the rice was legally imported based on the documents.

“The deficiency or the absence of the shipping clearance for the aforesaid shipment was cured by the payment of the shipper/consignee of the corresponding administrative fine and shipping clearance fee,” Chong said. —LPM (FREEMAN)