MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Customs is authorized under the law to inspect shipments entering the country’s ports.
These include the balikbayan boxes more so if it contains contrabands or prohibited items.
In a customs memorandum order issued in September 1990, regular and speedy inspection of balikbayan boxes is conducted to determine whether or not its content corresponds with the declaration of the sender.
If discrepancies are discovered or if there is derogatory information about its contents, the customs inspector is authorized to open the box to conduct a hundred percent inspection of the package.
Previously, inspection of balikbayan boxes is only minimal.
According to customs, they plan to implement stricter inspection of packages because smugglers would find ways to have their contrabands to enter the country.
But DOJ says, the customs should point out to the passengers the reasons which brought the change in their policy.
More so that OFW’s have been used to minimal inspection of the packages they are sending.
Sec. Leila de Lima says that there are other ways to inspect balikbayan boxes without opening it, such as the use of x-ray machines.
She adds that the agency can look for other methods to do their mandate without causing inconvenience to OFW’s about their packages being tampered in the process.
The secretary further says that there’s no doubt about the authority of the bureau of customs inspecting balikbayan boxes. It just has to be done in a way that is acceptable to OFW’s and their families. (UNTV News)
A contract / manifesto stating that the Bureau of Customs have the authority to conduct a 100% examination of a package / cargo. (UNTV News)
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