Commissioner John Phillip Sevilla. RYAN LEAGOGO/INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—A total of 200,000 metric tons of rice entered various ports of the country in 2013 without the required import permit from the National Food Authority (NFA), Bureau of Customs Commissioner John Sevilla said Thursday.
At a press conference, Sevilla said they are already conducting an investigation to identify those who cleared the shipments.
“There was a breakdown in the process. How did this happen? Kapag may nakapasok na walang import permit, an appraiser or examiner has cleared this. So, we are asking them how what happened,” Sevilla told reporters.
Of the 200,000, Sevilla said 150,000 metric tons of rice arrived at the Port of Manila and Manila International Container Port and 75 percent of these were imported by only 5 consignees-Bold Bidder Marketing and General Merchandise, Starcraft Trading Corporation, Intercontinental Grains, Medaglia De Oro Trading and Silent Royalty Marketing.
The other 50,000 metric tons came from ports in Cagayan De Oro, Cebu, Davao and Misamis Oriental.
Sevilla said the shipments do not have records with the BOC’s Transaction Audit Division where entry files of importations are forwarded.
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