MANILA — The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has issued alert orders against 22 container vans allegedly containing used clothing, known as “ukay-ukay”, estimated to be worth PHP55 million.
Officer-in-charge of the BOC-Port of Cebu’s Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS), Verne Enciso, said the cargoes arrived in three batches last March and April at the Cebu port.
The shipments were reportedly consigned to Hideka Manufacturing Corp. located at the Mactan Export Processing Zone (MEPZ) in Amodia St., Basak, Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu City while the broker was identified as Bella Ferrer of Parañaque City.
The container vans came from Korea, Japan, United States and Australia.
The consignee was reportedly engaged in the business of manufacturing rags using used clothing.
Enciso added that the alert orders were issued in connection with the memorandum issued by CIIS director Neil Anthony Estrella on the intensified campaign against the import of used clothing and Intellectual Property Rights – Infringing Clothing Apparel.
Customs Tariff Decision Circular 01-2015, signed by former customs commissioner Alberto Lina, conforms with Republic Act 4653, the act to “safeguard the health of the people and maintain the dignity of the nation by declaring it a national policy to prohibit the commercial importation of textile articles, commonly known as used clothing and rags”. (Ferdinand G. Patinio/PNA)