i still cannot comprehend what really is the big issue in this "balikbayan" box inspection. before this issue got hot and viral in press and media, i got informed by my balikbayan box forwarder that the BOC will be implementing this random inspection and my box (if randomly selected) will be subject to physical item inspection i.e. box will be opened and the contained items will be subject to inspection. i really did not care about it as i thought such inspection were already enforced. so what or where really is the issue?
just would like to list down what i know so far:
1) all cargoes are subject to inspection
many OFWs think that balikbayan boxes are not subject to inspection. there's no law or PD which exempts balikbayan boxes for inspection. the mode of inspection (whether physical or x-ray) is the discretion of custom inspector. in japan, they have all the scanning technologies, yet all cargoes even small parcels are being opened for physical inspection. for security purposes, i think the Philippines should do the same, especially bacterial contamination checks.
2) all exported items are subject to taxes
goods contained in the balikbayan box are subject to taxes. currently, exemption from duties and taxes of "balikbayan" boxes containing personal and household effects is limited to a total of $500. many OFWs including me didn't know about this limit till now. i thought it was $2000 (or 200k JPY) as it was indicated on the packing list of the balikbayan box forwarder i'm using. being a hot topic on the media, senate and congress is now eyeing to increase the limit to $2000.
3) items gone missing after the inspection are responsibility of the forwarder
many balikbayan box senders don't want their boxes opened being afraid that items might get stolen. from what i understand, the forwarder is being paid to guarantee the delivery of a package. the forwarder thus has the responsibility to stand and represent the sending party during the inspection; and to make sure all items are placed back into the box.
the BOC really has a big problem in gaining the trust of the public. there are many news and reports of corrupt custom officials in the airports.
4) what the BOC trying to implement is "random" physical inspection
till now BOC was a bit loose in enforcing these laws to the balkbayan boxes. now they are trying to do initiate a "random" inspection and not 100% inspection. i think this wont be totally random. they might have certain criteria to base to on which box they will be putting into test. they might be taking samples from boxes sent thru a specific forwarders; or could be those boxes which appears to be externally different.
i was interested to know what triggered BOC to change their policy for doing this random physical inspection of balikbayan box. watching the video of this senate investigation, the BOC failed to convey the reason behind this change but this leads me to ask the following question:
"because there was no report of drugs or armaments found in balikbayan boxes, BOC cannot enforce a random physical inspection?"
for whatever reasons, (maybe resource constraints) BOC did not enforce physical inspection and may have just relied into x-rays. the question is: is x-ray inspection really enough?. i have taken the case of japan doing physical item inspection of even small parcels despite of having hi-tech scanning systems. last time i bought a camera lens adapter from an online shop in the US, i received the package with a tape resealed by the Japanese customs.
it could also be for the same reason that BOC does not have a statistical number of incidents related to balikbayan boxes found to contain illegal drugs or contrabands, due to the fact they were not conducting physical inspection and that the departments' scanning systems are not able to detect such items.
im not against on this move of the BOC and it might be part of the "daang matuwid" initiatives of putting things into order. but they should be clear in conveying their motives. is it really for security prevention; or for more tax generation?
just would like to list down what i know so far:
1) all cargoes are subject to inspection
many OFWs think that balikbayan boxes are not subject to inspection. there's no law or PD which exempts balikbayan boxes for inspection. the mode of inspection (whether physical or x-ray) is the discretion of custom inspector. in japan, they have all the scanning technologies, yet all cargoes even small parcels are being opened for physical inspection. for security purposes, i think the Philippines should do the same, especially bacterial contamination checks.
2) all exported items are subject to taxes
goods contained in the balikbayan box are subject to taxes. currently, exemption from duties and taxes of "balikbayan" boxes containing personal and household effects is limited to a total of $500. many OFWs including me didn't know about this limit till now. i thought it was $2000 (or 200k JPY) as it was indicated on the packing list of the balikbayan box forwarder i'm using. being a hot topic on the media, senate and congress is now eyeing to increase the limit to $2000.
3) items gone missing after the inspection are responsibility of the forwarder
many balikbayan box senders don't want their boxes opened being afraid that items might get stolen. from what i understand, the forwarder is being paid to guarantee the delivery of a package. the forwarder thus has the responsibility to stand and represent the sending party during the inspection; and to make sure all items are placed back into the box.
the BOC really has a big problem in gaining the trust of the public. there are many news and reports of corrupt custom officials in the airports.
4) what the BOC trying to implement is "random" physical inspection
till now BOC was a bit loose in enforcing these laws to the balkbayan boxes. now they are trying to do initiate a "random" inspection and not 100% inspection. i think this wont be totally random. they might have certain criteria to base to on which box they will be putting into test. they might be taking samples from boxes sent thru a specific forwarders; or could be those boxes which appears to be externally different.
i was interested to know what triggered BOC to change their policy for doing this random physical inspection of balikbayan box. watching the video of this senate investigation, the BOC failed to convey the reason behind this change but this leads me to ask the following question:
"because there was no report of drugs or armaments found in balikbayan boxes, BOC cannot enforce a random physical inspection?"
for whatever reasons, (maybe resource constraints) BOC did not enforce physical inspection and may have just relied into x-rays. the question is: is x-ray inspection really enough?. i have taken the case of japan doing physical item inspection of even small parcels despite of having hi-tech scanning systems. last time i bought a camera lens adapter from an online shop in the US, i received the package with a tape resealed by the Japanese customs.
it could also be for the same reason that BOC does not have a statistical number of incidents related to balikbayan boxes found to contain illegal drugs or contrabands, due to the fact they were not conducting physical inspection and that the departments' scanning systems are not able to detect such items.
im not against on this move of the BOC and it might be part of the "daang matuwid" initiatives of putting things into order. but they should be clear in conveying their motives. is it really for security prevention; or for more tax generation?
