Bureau of Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña showing the shipment containing “ukay-ukay”
MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has confiscated 40-foot container van containing “ukay-ukay” or secondhand clothes which arrived on February 27 at the Manila International Container Port (MICP) .
The garments came from Hong Kong and were misdeclared as household goods and personal effects from Proline Logistics Philippines Inc.
As the vans passed through an X-ray scanner, Customs officials noticed that it contained used clothes wrapped inside balikbayan boxes.
Alert order was issued by the BOC to avoid the release of said shipment.
Under the law, importing “ukay-ukay” (used clothes) is prohibited.
“I have been receiving reports there are still ‘ukay-ukay’ diyan sa (in) Baclaran. So these are the things that we will address but we will be concentrating on our port,” said BOC Commissioner Isidro Lapeña.
The commissioner reminded the public about the dangers of purchasing second-hand items such as clothes.
“Do not patronize itong mga ‘ukay-ukay’ because of health issues. Hindi natin alam kung saan nanggagaling itong mga used clothing na ito eh. Pwede ito manggaling sa ospital at hindi na-sterilize at hindi na sanitize,” said the commissioner.
(Do not patronize these ‘ukay-ukay’ because of health issues. We don’t know where these used clothing came from. They could have come from the hospitals and have not been sterilized nor sanitized.)
Importers may be held liable for violations of Republic Act 4653 and Section 1400 of Republic Act 10863 or the Customs Modernization Tariff Act.
Meantime, 50 alert orders per day will be issued by BOC in ports nationwide to avoid illegal entry of shipments such as “ukay-ukay”. — Mai Bermudez | UNTV News & Rescue
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