Gatchalian: Time to revisit law prohibiting ‘ukay-ukay’ imports

INQUIRER.net stock images

MANILA, Philippines — It is time that the government revisits the law prohibiting the import of used clothes, locally known as “ukay-ukay, ” said Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, incoming chairman of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means.

Gatchalian said Congress should consider if the law banning the import of second-hand garments remains “practical.”

“Titignan natin ang batas ulit, titignan natin kung yung batas practical pa ba, considering na buong Pilipinas may ukay-ukay,” Gatchalian said Wednesday at the Kapihan sa Manila Bay media forum in Manila.

(We will look into that law again, we will see if the law remains practical, considering all of the Philippines has ukay-ukay.)

Senator Raffy Tulfo earlier proposed that the importation of “ukay-ukay” or second-hand clothes should be legalized instead of being banned so that the government could derive income.

However, under Republic Act No. 4653, the commercial importation of used clothing and rags is prohibited to ensure public health and uphold dignity.

Gatchalian, however, said the law prohibiting the import of “ukay ukay” will have to be amended if the government were to tax the said items.

“We will have to amend the law,” Gatchalian said.

“Aamyendahan natin ang batas. Pag-aaralan naming mabuti din kung yung dahilan sa pag-ban ay legitimate pa din hanggang ngayon,” he added.

(We will amend the law. We would also see if the reasons behind the ban remain legitimate.)

The senator pointed out that the issue lies with the importer, who has to resort to smuggling because of the law, and not “ukay-ukay” sellers who are “legitimate.”

“It’s been there many years, sa aking nakita, ang mga retailer, for example yung mga nagbebenta ng ukay-ukay, may business permit sila, may resibo sila, wala silang problema. Ang nagiging problema yung mga importer. Dahil yung importer, sila yung di nagbabayad ng buwis,” Gatchalian said.

(It’s been there many years. Based on what I have seen, those who sell ukay-ukay, they have business permits and receipts, and they have no issues. It’s the importers who become the problem because they don’t pay taxes.)

“At ang balita ko ngayon sa mga importer, dinedeclare nila for charitable. Ibibigay sa mga orphanage, hospital, pero dina-divert at binebenta sa mga retailers. So yung mga retailers, legitimate sila, ang problema yung importers,” he further said.

(And from what I know, the importers declare that these used clothes are for charity and that they would give these to orphanages, and hospitals. But then they would divert it and sell these to retailers. So these retailers are legitimate; the problem is with the importers.)

“Iyon ang titignan namin, upon the proposal of Senator Tulfo, at ire-revisit namin, matagal na yang batas na yan,” he continued.

(These are the issues we will look into upon the proposal of Senator Tulfo, and we would revisit [the law], that law has been in place for a long time.)

RELATED STORY:
Customs probing men in ‘ukay-ukay’ smuggling

/MUF