By BETHEENA KAE UNITE
Eleven shipments containing used clothing and dump trucks from China have been intercepted in Davao City, the Bureau of Customs said.
The shipments were seized for misdeclation and failure to secure proper import permit, Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapena said.
Ten shipments of used clothing or more popularly known as “ukay-ukay” were held by the Customs Port of Davao last July 19 at the Sasa Wharf due to misdeclaration.
Several bales of ukay-ukay are estimated to be worth R17.8 million and consigned to Zainar General Merchandising, Al-Shaeer Enterprises, Suluans General Merchandising, and Mourpling Trading.
Based on the consignees’ import documents, the shipments were declared as bedsheets, thin blankets, shoes, bags, and stuffed toys but were found to contain bales of used clothes, upon inspection.
With this, Lapeña appealed to the public to not patronize ukay-ukay as it poses health risks.
“There is really wisdom in the law prohibiting its importation. The dignity of the nation and the people must be protected and should not be undermined,” he said.
Ukay-ukay are classified as prohibited under Republic Act No. 4653 or “An Act to Safeguard the Health of the People and maintain the Dignity of the Nation by declaring it a National Policy to Prohibit the Commercial Importation of Textile articles commonly known as Used Clothing and Rags.”
