The Bureau of Customs (BOC) clarified that the delays in rice shipments are not connected to port congestion, but rather result from necessary actions that consignees must complete to release the shipments.
Currently, the Port of Manila holds 258 rice containers, 237 of which have been cleared for release following the payment of duties and taxes.
The 21 remaining containers submitted their Goods Declarations on September 20, 2024, and are still awaiting clearance.
Additionally, there are 630 rice containers at the Manila International Container Port (MICP) where 492 containers have received clearance for release, whereas 138 containers are still awaiting the payment of duties and taxes.
The BOC highlights that none of these shipments have surpassed the 30-day timeframe outlined in Section 1129(d) of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA).
Importers must claim their shipments within 30 days of paying duties and taxes; otherwise, the shipments will be deemed abandoned. The BOC will begin abandonment proceedings for any unclaimed shipments after this period.
The BOC assures that it is continuously monitoring the situation at the ports and following all necessary procedures.
"The Bureau of Customs remains committed to ensuring that the release of rice shipments follows the legal procedures without unnecessary delays," BOC Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio said.
"We urge consignees to act promptly to avoid further disruptions. The BOC stands ready to enforce abandonment proceedings as mandated by law if goods remain unclaimed," he added.
