GOVT LOSES P3.6-BILLION IN TAXES / DAMAGE BY 'JUANING', 'KABAYAN' P1.7 B
MANILA, AUGUST 2, 2011 (BULLETIN) By RIO ROSE RIBAYA and BEN R. ROSARIO — About P3.6 billion worth of taxes are feared to have gone down the drain following the disappearance of 1,910 container vans loaded with high-duty rice and sugar shipments from the Bureau of Customs (BoC), the House Committee on Ways and Means said Monday.
The House panel discovered that the agency also failed to collect P180,000 worth of customs duties from 2,219 vans that were transshipped to the Port of Batangas (PoB) from the Port of Manila (PoM) and the Manila International Container Port (MICP) from January to May.
The 1,910 container vans are part of the 2,219 vans supposed to have been transshipped to the PoB from PoM and MICP. But only 309 container vans arrived and are accounted for in the Port of Batangas.
Valenzuela Rep. Magtanggol Gunigundo, vice chairman of the panel's Subcommittee on Tariffs and Custom, Monday expressed frustration over BoC officials upon learning that the container vans did not even pass through X-ray inspections.
Gunigundo noted that the amount of tax that should have been collected might increase further assuming that the shipments contain goods with higher customs duties than rice, sugar, and other contrabands.
Testifying before the House panel during a recent public hearing, Customs Commissioner Angelito Alvarez disclosed that the containers were discovered to be missing in the course of a comparative analysis conducted on all transshipment permits issued from the months January to May this year vis-à-vis the consumption entries to be filed at the port of destination, which in the case of the study was the Port of Batangas.
Batangas Rep. Hermilando Mandanas, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, panel, said the containers apparently contained highly dutiable merchandise like rice and sugar.
Zambales Rep. Maria Milagros Magsaysay demanded heads to roll in the Customs agency due to the "smacks of leadership" under Customs Commissioner Lito Alvarez.
"We should get to the bottom of this matter. How can more than 2,000 containers worth P3.58 billion simply disappear out of thin air? Where is the security in our ports?" Magsaysay asked.
Jose Tabanda, the deputy collector in charge in the Port of Manila, blamed the P450-million computerization in the BoC for the mess, saying that a configuration problem in the system messed up the documentation for the missing container vans.
Citing policies and procedures, Gunigundo – a former BoC official himself – said that Tabanda should have stopped the delivery of the container vans with the absence of letter of receipt from consignees in Batangas.
He was convinced of conspiracy between importers, consignees, brokers, and errant BoC officials with the absence of complaints.
Like Gunigundo, Rep. Elpidio Barzaga (NUP, Dasmariñas City) said since there has been no complaint from the three consignees, this only shows there has been smuggling impliedly committed. "They are not pinpointing responsibility or asking damage from the BoC."
Damage from storms reach P1.7-BBy ELLALYN B. DE VERA and ELENA L. ABENAugust 1, 2011, 6:23pm
MANILA, Philippines — The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said the combined death toll from tropical storms "Juaning" (Nock Ten) and "Kabayan" (Muifa) has reached 61 while estimated cost of damage to property exceeded P1.7 billion as of Monday.
Among the affected areas from the almost two weeks of continued rains due to "Juaning" and "Kabayan," the Bicol region suffered the worst devastation, NDRRMC data show.
Latest NDRRMC bulletin on the effects of "Juaning" showed the number of fatalities climbed to 57, of which 41 were reported in the Bicol region. The same report showed 51 people were injured, while 24 people, mostly fishermen, remain missing.
Four deaths were recorded due to tropical storm "Kabayan", including two children, identified as Junrey Modas Potat, 4, and Princess Joy Modas Potat, 2 - both of Cortes Bohol.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the two tropical cyclones inside the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) Monday will continue to enhance the southwest monsoon or "hanging habagat" dumping rains over most parts of Luzon and the Visayas until Thursday.
PAGASA weather forecaster Aldczar Aurelio said tropical depression "Lando" and typhoon "Kabayan" (international name: Muifa) will not directly affect the country, but will enhance the southwest monsoon, causing scattered to widespread rains in the western section of Luzon, including Metro Manila,and the Visayas.
However, Aurelio said there is a high possibility that "Lando" will dissipate within 24 hours, as it is being pulled by typhoon "Kabayan."
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