SBMA, BOC sign MOU to regulate admission of recyclable non-hazmat in SBF

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) and the Bureau of Customs (BOC)-Port of Subic signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will regulate the admission of recyclable non-hazardous materials inside this Freeport.

SBMA Chairman and Administrator Eduardo Jose L. Aliño and BOC-Port of Subic District Collector Noel C. Estanislao signed the MOU that will boost the recycling sector in the freeport, at the Corporate Boardroom of the Administration Building here on October 2, 2025.

“This agreement will not only ensure proper regulation of recyclable non-hazardous materials, but also enhance our shared efforts to safeguard our borders, protect the environment, and support legitimate industries within the Freeport,” Estanislao said. 

The MOU stipulates that the SBMA has formulated the Proposed Guidelines relative to the Admission of Non-Hazardous Materials, in line with the Freeport’s policies and regulations, and to facilitate the admission of goods and operations in the recycling industry.

The MOU also states that both agencies will coordinate and collaborate to ensure the smooth, transparent, compliant, and efficient conduct of recycling operations, exchange of information on the recycling industry, and provision of capacity building initiatives for SBMA and BOC personnel, as well as registered SBFZ recyclers, to ascertain proper understanding of policies and guidelines.

A policy review will also be conducted to periodically assess and evaluate its applicability and propose recommendations as needed, to rectify and address operational gaps and challenges, and changing circumstances.

Aliño expressed his gratitude to the BOC Port of Subic for the unwavering commitment to nation-building, citing that the collaboration between government agencies and the private sector is necessary in attracting more businesses while protecting the environment.

Recyclable non-hazardous materials are identified as common waste items such as paper, cardboard, metals (cans), glass (bottles and jars), and certain plastics (such as pet bottles) that generally do not pose a significant threat to human health or the environment. 

While generally safe, proper sorting and cleaning of these materials are essential to prevent contamination and ensure they can be processed for reuse, thereby conserving resources and reducing landfill waste, which eventually benefit the environment.

Senior Deputy Administrator for Regulatory Amethya Dela Llana said that the Subic Bay Freeport has 12 companies in the recycling industry, with four other companies eyeing to set up their businesses here. 

Dela Llana added that the SBMA regularly conducts Recyclables Collection Events (RCEs) and weekly recycling initiatives to collect these materials for recycling and upcycling, the proceeds of which support charities like ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation.

Prior to the MOU signing, a public hearing was held at the Subic Bay Yacht Club where locators were presented with Proposed Guidelines, Implementing Procedures, Liquidation reports, and Basis of Fines and Penalties in the Admission of Non-Hazardous Materials in the SBFZ. (MPD-SBMA) 

Read More

Attempted smuggling of P140-M contrabands foiled in Subic Bay Freeport

Attempted smuggling of contraband valued at P140 million was foiled on Wednesday at this premier Freeport. 

According to Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman and Administrator Eduardo Jose L. Aliño, the items were seized thru the vigilance of the agency, Bureau of Customs (BOC) Port of Subic, and the Department of Agriculture (DA).

During the presentation to the media on Wednesday at the New Container Terminal (NCT), Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel and BOC Port of Subic District Collector Atty. Ricardo Uy Morales II opened a total of seven 40-footer container vans.

The two officials presented the first five container vans containing fresh carrots and fresh yellow onions from China. According to Laurel, the shipment was declared to contain a total of 13,250 cartons of frozen fresh fish egg balls. 

The shipment was consigned to the Betron Consumer Goods Trading and arrived here on August 15, 2024 from China.

He added that the five container vans were found to contain 5,784 cartons of fresh carrots, 9,742 sacks of fresh yellow onions, and 320 cartons of frozen fresh egg balls. He also cited that the smuggled vegetables have a total fair market value of P21,082,752.

According to the BOC, the possible violations of the consignee are having no certificate of product registration issued by the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) for the frozen fresh egg balls; no Sanitary and Phytosanitary Import Clearance for the fresh carrots; and the undeclared shipment of fresh carrots and yellow onions. 

The two other 40-footer container vans, consigned to the Subic All N1 Corp., were declared to contain 2,153 packages of tissues. The container vans arrived in Subic Freeport on August 13, 2024, with Taiwan as the country of origin.

Collector Morales said that the two container vans actually contained 167 packages of tissues, 993 master cases of Bros Premium Class A cigarettes, and 993 master cases of Commando Filter, Kings Finest, and Virginia Blend cigarettes. 

Morales shared that the total fair market value for the smuggled items were priced at P115,509,839.67, adding that the violations committed by the aforementioned consignee include: no valid Certificate of Registration and Tax Exemption from the SBMA; and expired registration/ accreditation from the BOC since March 20, 2020.

He added that the consignee has no Import Commodity Clearance Issued by the National Tobacco Administration (NTA), and is not included in the 2022 list of licensed importers of tobacco products.

Chairman Aliño said that the total value of the smuggled items that were presented to the media on Wednesday amounted to P136,592,591.67. The agency chief commended the vigilance of the government agencies involved in safeguarding the country from illicit materials.

“Our mandate is in line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s thrust of ensuring that smuggled items do not proliferate in the country. The SBMA, the BOC Port of Subic and the DA will continue to man the gates of the Philippines and bar the entry of smuggled items into the country,” he added. (MPD-SBMA)

Read More

Smuggled vegetables seized in Subic Freeport

In line with the mandate of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to run after agricultural smugglers, the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) and the Bureau of Customs (BOC) Port of Subic apprehended nine 40-foot container trucks at the Port of Subic on Wednesday.

SBMA Chairman and Administrator Jonathan D. Tan, who personally went to the Freeport's container terminal for the inspection, said the nine containers were all declared as frozen lobster balls, which were consigned to Rianne Food Products.

The SBMA Chief added that the seized cargo arrived on November 3 with a declaration that the shipments all  contained at least 40, 000 cartons of frozen lobster balls.

Tan revealed that upon cargo check, the SBMA and the BOC found that the shipments contained fresh potatoes, carrots, radish, and broccoli in the amount of more than 42.6 Million Pesos.

The BOC Port of Subic seized the misdeclared shipments for proper disposition and appropriate action. Six other containers, also consigned to the same company, will be subjected to the same inspection procedure by the port authority and the customs bureau.

Meanwhile, Chairman Tan lauded the vigilance of the two agencies, stating that both the SBMA and the BOC Port of Subic are very much serious in implementing the President's mandate to go after agricultural smugglers and end illicit trade in the country. (MPD-SBMA)

Read More

SBMA Chairman assures stricter measures against smuggling

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman and Administrator Jonathan D. Tan assured the public that smuggling will be thwarted during his term.

The statement came after Tan and Bureau of Customs (BOC) District Collector Atty. Carmelita Talusan conducted an inspection of counterfeit goods worth P240-million in a warehouse in Subic Bay Freeport on Tuesday.

According to Tan, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has mandated him to look into the smuggling of goods inside the Freeport, citing that the apprehension of the shipment of counterfeit goods is thru the collaboration between his agency and the BOC Port of Subic.

Chairman Tan said that the SBMA will provide any assistance necessary to the BOC Port of Subic to ensure that smuggled goods would be confiscated before entering other Philippine territories. 

“The cooperation between the SBMA and BOC Port of Subic will definitely yield positive results following the mandate that the President has given me. By working together, our agencies will certainly provide a more secure Subic Bay Freeport Zone that is free from smuggling,” Tan said.

The two officials inspected the shipments of counterfeit goods at a warehouse in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone on Tuesday wherein 1,269 cartons of misdeclared t-shirts were found. Talusan said that the estimated value of the two shipments totaled P240 million.

Atty. Talusan also mentioned that the cargoes arrived on June 14, from its port of origin in Dhaka, Bangladesh. She added that they conducted the examination on June 26 on the shipments consigned to Bonne Volonte Consumer Goods.

The BOC official also cited that the shipment violates Section 155 of Republic Act No. 8293 or the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines, relative to Section 1113(f) of RA No. 10863 or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA).

Talusan also disclosed that some of the brand owners who provided certificates of counterfeit goods include Emerald Garment Manufacturing Corp. (makers of RRJ, Stylistic and Mr. Lee), and Federis & Associates Law Offices for Uniqlo and Cotton On. (MPD-SBMA)

Read More

Gov’t agencies seize shipment of ₱190-M misdeclared items at Subic Port

Coordinated efforts by government agencies have led to the seizure of misdeclared items worth a total of ₱190-million at the Port of Subic.

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman and Administrator Rolen C. Paulino revealed that the BOC Port of Subic, thru information from the Department of Agriculture (DA), discovered 58 containers loaded with 30,000 sacks of misdeclared refined sugar worth ₱150-million. 

Following the issuance of Pre-Lodgement Control Orders and Alert Orders by District Collector Maritess Martin, Paulino, Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Y. Rubio, and DA Assistant Secretary James Layug conducted an examination of the shipment on Thursday.

Aside from the 58 containers, two more containers of misdeclared assorted frozen meat products were seized which cost around ₱40 million. 

Martin said that the agency is set to issue a warrant of seizure and detention (WSD) against the subject containers for violation of Section 1400, in relation to Section 1113 (f) of the Republic Act 10863 or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA), and Sugar Regulatory Authority and BOC Joint Memorandum Order No. 04-2002.

Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio lauded the vigilance of the pertinent agencies, citing, “the BOC continues to maximize its intelligence resources and intensify enforcement measures to thwart all attempts of smuggling, especially those involving agricultural products that negatively impact our local farmers and businesses.”

“It has always been a priority of the BOC to protect local consumers against the health hazards posed by these illegally imported goods,” he added.

SBMA Chairman Paulino lauded the personnel of the agency, together with the BOC and the DA for foiling the attempt to smuggle ₱150-million worth of misdeclared sugar, along with the P40-million worth of misdeclared frozen products.

“We will follow President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s thrust in ensuring that Subic Freeport will not be an entry point for smuggled items. The SBMA, BOC Port of Subic, and the DA are working hand-in-hand to thwart any illegal trade happening in Subic Freeport,” he said. (MPD-SBMA)

Read More

SBMA chair lauds employees for apprehension of smuggling try in Subic

"Not on my watch!"

This was the statement made by Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman and Administrator Rolen C. Paulino during a media briefing here on Tuesday to warn those attempting to smuggle goods through the freeport. 

Paulino was reacting to reports that the Subic Bay Freeport “should be closed” to prevent smuggling. He cited that the apprehension of smugglers should be commended instead, citing that the SBMA is working closely with other government agencies in preventing smuggling in the country. 

The Freeport has been under fire from Albay Congressman Joey Salceda after the representative cited that the Subic Freeport should be closed due to the alleged “rampant smuggling” here. The chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means said that they will probe the Freeport for the supposed smuggling.

Chairman Paulino cited that prior to the docking of the ship, the SBMA conducts a Ship Pre-Arrival Meeting (SPAM) to verify the shipments and see if there were any misdeclaration, misclassification or undervaluation in their cargoes. 

Suspicious shipments will be held for investigation by corresponding government agency and will be charged accordingly. 

He said that the entry of items inside the Subic Bay Freeport Zone is not smuggling in itself. It is still subject for joint inspection by the SBMA seaport department, together with the Bureau of Customs (BoC), the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) for verification of documents before they issue a pass. 

“If these items got out of the Subic Freeport gates without the proper documents, then that would be considered smuggling,” Paulino stressed. 

Moreover, he said that the seizure of smuggled items in the Subic Bay Freeport before it gains entry into Philippine territory is a sign that the SBMA and other government agencies tasked to guard the entry points are doing their job. 

“We believe that Representative Salceda is only looking out for the good of the country, but closing the Subic Bay Freeport is not the answer to stop the smuggling, especially of agricultural products,” Paulino said. 

The chairman said that, consequently, hundreds of thousands of workers here would lose their jobs, the billion-dollar transshipment businesses here would closed, billions of pesos in revenues would not be collected ergo will not be turned over to the national government.

“Closing the Freeport would mean that hundreds of foreign and local companies will relocate, some of the biggest tourism sites will close, and military presence in the area will have no direct support from other government agencies,” he said. (MPD-SBMA)  

Read More

BOC seizes 7,029MT sugar from Thailand in Port of Subic

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) Port of Subic seized around 7,029 metric tonnes of sugar on Thursday evening as part of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to thwart the illegal hoarding of sugar imports in the country. 

According to Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman and Administrator Rolen C. Paulino, the BOC Port of Subic held the Taiwanese cargo ship MV Bangpakaew at the Naval Supply Depot (NSD) on Thursday evening.

He said that the ship that came from Bangkok containing 142,798 bags or equivalent to 7,029 metric tonnes of imported sugar arrived on August 17, 7pm. A part of the shipment have already been unloaded into three trucks supposedly en route to Oro Agri Trade in Rosales, Pangasinan.

According to Paulino, the vessel has allegedly been using recycled import documents and has already paid its taxes worth P44 million. The cargo vessel is currently on hold for further investigation.

“We are following President Marcos’ mandate to ensure that there is no hoarding of sugar in the country. The President made it clear that he does not want to import sugar, and certainly he does not want the illegal hoarding of sugar that causes prices to skyrocket,” he said.

Recently, the BOC Port of Subic intercepted various illicit cigarettes worth P253 Million from June to July 2022.

According to Port of Subic District Collector Maritess Martin, previously, 972 master cases of cigarettes consigned to Thousand Sunny valued at P40.09 million were confiscated in June. She added that the Port also intercepted 1,003 master cases of cigarettes worth P41.3 million, consigned to Russhi Knish Consumer.

“Another shipment of Thousand Sunny Enterprise arrived at the Port despite the revocation of their accreditation. It contained 1,000 master cases of assorted cigarettes valued at P42.2 million,” she added.

In July 2022, the Port seized another 2,157 master cases of cigarettes consigned to Proline Logistics Philippines Inc. amounting to P84.9 million.

The BOC-Subic also received information that another shipment consigned to Proline Logistics Inc. would arrive at the Port.

The BOC immediately issued a Pre-lodgment Control Order against the subject shipment, which contained 1,122 master cases of Marvels Filter Kings Cigarettes valued at P46,276,890.00. Martin vowed to protect the national borders against unscrupulous importers and illicit traders through intensified profiling and monitoring of import goods. (MPD-SBMA)

Read More

BOC Port of Subic acquires 2 patrol boats

In an effort to strengthen its maritime security capabilities in this premier Freeport, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) Port of Subic has launched two new water patrol boats.

Port of Subic District Collector Atty. Maritess Martin said that the 12.7-meter patrol boats, which they acquired from the head office, are capable of reaching speeds of over 45 knots and will be used by the BOC in boarding formalities, patrol and water pursuit within the nation’s borders.

Martin also said that these two boats are built to complete demanding missions with absolute reliability. She added that these boats will primarily be deployed for rapid interception of smugglers to foil smuggling activities and other fraudulent activities through consistent patrolling.

The two fast patrol boats will be used for the joint operations of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the BOC Port of Subic in suppressing smuggling activities in our shores, and to carry out customs-related operations.

Martin also expressed her gratitude to Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman and Administrator Rolen C. Paulino for supporting the agency’s undertakings in this premier Freeport.

“The Port of Subic is just so excited and privileged to be given the opportunity to continue our service, not only through the collection of lawful revenue, but also by patrolling our waters thus prevent smuggling,” she said.

Chairman Paulino, moreover, lauded the efforts of BOC Port of Subic for protecting the waters of this premier Freeport, citing that this will provide full support in the agency’s endeavor in preventing smuggling.

Meanwhile, BOC Water Patrol Division SP Maj. Danielo S. Gonzales, and ESS-CPD District Commander S/P Capt. Vincent Mark S. Malasmas was also present during the inauguration of the two patrol boats. (MPD-SBMA)

Read More

P15-M illegal fresh veggies shipment seized in Subic Freeport

Some P15-milion worth of fresh vegetables illegally shipped from China were confiscated here on Thursday through the coordinated efforts of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), Bureau of Customs-Port of Subic (BOC-Subic), and the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Plant Industry (DA-BPI).

SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma said the fresh vegetables were found inside five 40-footer container vans that were declared to contain frozen assorted vegetables and consigned to Saturnus Corp., an importer based in Metro Manila.

The shipment was initially flagged on October 13 by authorities here for non-compliance with the approved sanitary and phytosanitary import clearance (SPS-IC) on temperature requirement and for ingress of non-importable fresh vegetables.

“We found out that the shipment contained chilled fresh vegetables that are considered illegal for importation into the country. These included various fresh produce such as water bamboo, mushrooms, broccoli, and other vegetables,” Eisma said.

The shipment was also found to contain undeclared agricultural products like sweet oats, she added.

Eisma, along with BOC District Collector Marites Martin and Agriculture Assistant Secretary for Economic Intelligence Federico Laciste Jr., inspected the contraband at the New Container Terminal here on Thursday afternoon.

Martin said her office already issued warrants of seizure and detention for the shipment, stressing that the consignee Saturnus Corp. was only given a permit to import frozen vegetables.

She stressed that the temperature of frozen commodities should be at -18 degrees Celsius, but that the refrigerated containers in the Saturnus shipment were at -1 degrees Celsius. “Thus, the issued SPS  Importation clearance is not applicable in the instant importation,” Martin added.

She said the Port of Subic “will definitely remain fully committed in securing the country’s borders from the entry of prohibited, smuggled goods, and all other illicit trades.”

Agriculture Asec Federico Laciste Jr., who is also the co-chair of the Economic Intelligence Sub-Task Group on Food Security, said the seizure of the illegal shipment was the “result of concerted efforts between government agencies such as the SBMA, DA-BPI, BOC, DTI, and other offices through the Economic Intelligence Sub-Task Group on Food Security.” 

He pointed out that the shipment violated the agency’s Administrative Order No. 18, series of 2000, and Sec. 19 of DA Department Circular 4, series of 2016, in relation to Section 1113 (f) of Republic Act No. 10863 otherwise known as the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA).

Meanwhile, SBMA Senior Deputy Administrator for Operations Ronnie Yambao said that the inter-agency team made a thorough search of the shipment, including a probe for any illegal drug or substance in the shipment, after initially finding violations on Wednesday.

He said the concerned agencies conducted a 10 percent physical examination of the shipment in the presence of the broker’s representative, and personnel of the BOC and SBMA. (MPD-SBMA)

Read More

P24-M imported onions seized in Subic

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) in the Port of Subic on Monday seized 12 container vans loaded with fresh onions with an estimated market value of P24 million. 

Subic Customs collector Marites Martin said the cargo arrived in Subic from China and were consigned to two port users: Thousand Sunny, which was to receive three containers, and Dua Te Mira, which was to get nine.

The manifest, however, indicated that the contents of the 40-footer refrigerated container vans were frozen chapati bread, or flat Indian bread.

Martin said the BOC decided to declare the cargos abandoned after nobody claimed them or presented proof of ownership for all or part of the shipment.

The BOC said each of the 12 refrigerated vans contained hundreds of sacks of fresh red onions with estimated market value of P2 million each van.

During the inspection at the New Container Terminal here on Monday, five units of containerized vans were opened in the presence of Martin, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Assistant Secretary Ronnel Abrenica, and DENR field inspector Tom Muñoz.

One of the containers was equipped with a global positioning system (GPS) tracking device, which the BOC said is used to track the container’s current location. Martin said this was the first time they discovered a GPS tracking devise being placed in a container van.

Meanwhile, SBMA Chairman Eisma expressed regret upon learning that the seized cargo may end up being destroyed under the law, and suggested to Martin and Muñoz that they just be donated to the poor or to charity institutions.

“In this time of the pandemic when many already lost their jobs, and more have nothing to cook, it’s really a waste if these products will just be destroyed. I hope we could find ways that they could somehow benefit the needy,” Eisma said.

Martin and Muñoz in response assured the SBMA Chairman that if it is allowable by law, they would recommend that the confiscated onions be donated instead.

The BOC is said to be conducting follow-up operations on the misdeclared shipment. (MPD-SBMA)

Read More

SBMA statement on imported wastes discovered at Subic Bay Freeport

Last Saturday, October 17, 2020, the Bureau of Customs at the Port of Subic raised an alert over two shipments consisting of 30 container vans declared to be containing old corrugated cartons for re-pulping. The shipments were transported from the United States via the container ship Ever Lyric and consigned to Bataan 2020, Inc., a paper manufacturer with a mill in Samal, Bataan.

The alert was based on information from the Department of the Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) that said shipments are suspected to be in violation of R.A. 10863, or An Act Modernizing the Customs and Tariff Administration, in relation to DERNR Administrative Order 2013-22 (Revised Procedures and Standards for the Management of Hazardous Wastes).

After initial examination of five container vans, BOC-Subic declared that “the shipment revealed prohibited waste materials which were illegally imported.” BOC-Subic said it will undertake further inventory “to ascertain the volume and actual contents of the shipment.”

As manager of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone, the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) vehemently denounces this apparent attempt to smuggle waste materials into the country and likewise deplores the use of the Subic Bay Freeport as a transit point for this illegal trade.  

It was just last year — on May 31, 2019 — that we successfully banished from our shores 69 garbage-laden containers from Canada, of which 67 had stayed here in Subic in their putrid condition for several years. We don’t want that sordid chapter in our history to happen again.

We join all concerned government agencies in vigilance against illegal importations and urge that those found involved in this unlawful activity be properly prosecuted.

We cannot, and should not, condone the dumping of wastes from any country into our shores.

WILMA T. EISMA

SBMA Chairman and Administrator

October 22, 2020

Read More

LNG ship-to-ship transfer resumes in Subic, but ship crew won’t disembark

 

Ship-to-ship transfer operations of liquefied natural gas (LNG) has resumed in Subic Bay with the arrival here of a tanker over the weekend, but the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) said the ship crew won’t be allowed to disembark due to health protocols observed in this time of the Covid-19 pandemic.

SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma said the agency has made it clear that the officers and crew of LNG/C Methane Shirley Elisabeth, a tanker that will transfer her LNG cargo to smaller feeder ships, would remain on board all throughout the two-week operation. 

“No one from the ship can be allowed to come ashore, sadly not even the 16 Filipinos among the 31 crew members, because of the health measures we must observe,” Eisma said.

The same policy will be implemented for the crew members of feeder vessels that will transport the LNG cargo from LNG/C Methane Shirley Elisabeth to ports in China, she added.

Eisma described the resumption of LNG ship-to-ship (STS) transfer operations in Subic as a “welcome boost to the economy” but stressed that health safety should be a paramount concern for both ship and port personnel.

According to SBMA seaport manager Jerome Martinez, LNG/C Methane Shirley Elisabeth, which has a gross tonnage of 95,753 tons, has a carrying capacity of 142,800 cubic meters of liquid gas.

He said the Bermudan-flagged carrier originated from Qatar and dropped by at a Hong Kong port to pick up three mooring masters before proceeding to Subic.

The ship is expected to stay at anchor here until August 15 for STS operations.

Martinez also confirmed that no one among the crew would be allowed to disembark from the ship for any reason while it is in the Port of Subic.

He said that aside from the 16 Filipino crewmen, 15 other foreign nationals are on board the vessel. These include nine Greeks, two Croatians, two Ukrainians, a Romanian, and a Latvian.

Martinez also noted that upon arrival at the anchorage area outside of the bay, a team from the Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ) immediately boarded the tanker for health inspections and safety protocols, and followed by a boarding party composed of personnel from the Bureau of Customs (BoC) and Bureau of Immigration (BoI).

Following LNG/C Methane Shirley Elisabeth, another LNG carrier, the Singaporean-flagged LNG/C Lerici, will also conduct ship-to-ship (STS) transfer in Subic.

Eisma said the same health and safety protocols will be imposed by Subic authorities for Lerici’s STS operation. (MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:  

The LNG carrier Methane Shirley Elisabeth

Read More

Port of Subic posts highest rice import tariff collections

MANILA -- Preliminary data show that the government has so far collected PHP5.9 billion in tariffs from some 1.43 million metric tons (MT) of rice stocks imported by private traders, following the enactment of a law in March that liberalized the importation of the grain, the Department of Finance (DOF) disclosed in a statement on Thursday.

A report to Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III by Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero revealed that the Bureau of Customs (BOC) collected the highest amount of rice import tariffs from the Subic Bay port at PHP1.37 billion.

The Port of Manila collected PHP978.51 million in tariffs, followed by the Manila International Container Port with PHP942.76 million, Guerrero said during a recent DOF Executive Committee meeting.

The Port of Cagayan de Oro collected PHP754.13 million in tariffs from rice imports, while the Port of Davao collected PHP703.93 million, the data showed.

Republic Act (RA) 11203 or the Rice Liberalization Act was signed and approved by President Rodrigo Duterte last February 14.

Dominguez has described the rice liberalization law on the shift from quantitative restrictions (QRs) to tariffs on rice imports as a “proud” accomplishment of the Duterte presidency and the DOF, given that it took more than 30 years under various administrations to get the Congress to approve this game-changing reform.

Liberalizing rice imports, he said, will not only make quality rice more affordable and accessible to Filipino families, but will also lower the country’s inflation rate, revolutionize the agriculture sector and help farmers become more productive and competitive in the global economy.

Dominguez said rice tariffication has proved to be challenging because it was “a politically difficult reform to pass."

Liberalizing rice imports has made the staple food more affordable to Filipinos, making retail prices this summer cheaper by PHP10 per kilo.

RA 11203 created the PHP10-billion Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) to help palay growers and their farmers' cooperatives transition to a new rice regime.

The RCEF will be used to provide farmers tools and equipment, assistance in the production, promotion, and distribution of certified rice seeds, upgrading of post-harvest storage facilities, credit assistance, irrigation support, and research and development (R&D) support. (PR)

PHOTO:

The Subic Bay International Container Terminal (SBITC) at the Port of Subic

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1074081

Read More

BoC Subic posts record collection

The Port of Subic district collection unit of the Bureau of Customs achieved last month its highest revenue collection performance in its 20-year history after generating P2.347 billion, or 12.8 percent over its target for the period.

The BOC district unit headed by lawyer Ma. Rhea M. Gregorio registered a surplus of P265.429 million, according to the data gathered on the revenue performance of the district. Its target was P2.082 billion.

This is the third consecutive month that the district achieved positive collections record since September when Gregorio assumed the post as district collector.

BOC Subic accomplished the double-digit revenue targets by upgrading trade facilitation and closer dialogs with both Subic Freeport locators and port users.

Subic raised P2.182 billion revenues on import duties and taxes in October, netting P87.733 million, or a surplus of 4.2 percent. (Joel E. Zurbano, Manila Standard)

http://manilastandard.net/business/power-technology/282110/boc-subic-posts-record-collection.html

Read More

Subic BoC to implement ‘zero contact’ policy by Nov. 5

The Bureau of Customs will soon implement a “zero contact” policy in business transactions at the Port of Subic under the Enhanced Goods Declaration Verification System, or 1-Assessment System, which is designed to curtail corruption in processing cargoes and thus increase revenue collection for the government.

This was bared by Deputy Commissioner Jeffrey Ian Dy of the Management and Information Technology Group of the Bureau of Customs (BoC) during a dialogue with business locators, brokers and representatives of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) here.

The 1-Assessment project will start here on November 5, with Subic as one of the pilot ports in the country, while the program will be fully implemented nationwide starting the first week of January 2019, Dy added.

Under the new system, the broker or the shipper will be prohibited from visiting or talking to the BoC examiner or appraiser or any personnel of the BoC while the documents of the cargo are still being processed. Otherwise, a stiff penalty will be imposed upon the violating party, Dy added.

Meanwhile, brokers and BoC officials should only communicate through the 1-Assessment portal where all their messages regarding a particular cargo can be read by the BoC Commissioner or his authorized officers.

Dy explained that 1-Assessment is a web-based queue management software/application that provides bias-free assessment by randomly assigning appraisers and examiners to goods entering the Port of Subic from foreign countries.

Among the main objectives of the 1-Assessment program is to prevent corruption by institutionalizing the “Zero Contact Policy” in transacting business with the BoC. This is designed to suppress the “suki system” in the cargo clearance process with the random assignment of examiners and appraisers to a given goods declaration.

Dy stressed that the good news about 1-Assessment is the transparency in the processing of goods declaration using a first-in-first-out basis, where the assignment of examiners or appraisers is done automatically by computers without human intervention, except by the Assessment Chief in case the assigned examiner or appraiser reached is not yet available.

SBMA Deputy Administrator for Ports Marketing Ronnie Yambao welcomed the implementation of the new system, saying it will enhance the agency’s thrust to make business in Subic transparent and efficient.

“The 1-Assessment is a program of the national government that supports the vision of SBMA to provide efficient services to all of Subic locators, especially port users,” Yambao said during the forum.

He added that the implementation of 1-Assessment program will help prevent corrupt practices and attract more shippers to transfer to Subic port.

“This is a one-time big-time opportunity to change the culture and custom inside the BoC,” Dy concluded his presentation.

He said that BoC Commissioner Isidro Lapeña’s marching order for all BoC personnel was to eradicate corruption in the Bureau. (MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:

Some of the piers and wharves at the Port of Subic 

Read More

Port users raise Subic collections by 46% in Q2

Hefty payments by port users in the Subic Bay Freeport resulted to an increase of 46 percent in customs collections in the second quarter of 2018, compared to total collections in the same period last year.

The Bureau of Customs at the Port of Subic (BOC-Subic) reported that it collected a total of P5.27 billion in April to June this year, compared to P3.6 billion in April-June 2017, or a difference of P1.66 billion.

Meanwhile, the 2018 collection figures also increased considerably from P4.8 billion in January-March 2018 to P5.2 billion in April-June 2018, or a difference of P429 million, for a growth rate of 8.85 percent.

Combined figures from the two quarters also gave BOC-Subic a total tax haul of P10.12 billion, which represents a 28.43 percent increase over the 2017 first semester total of P7.88 billion.

BOC-Subic’s newly appointed district collector Segundo Sigmundfreud Z. Barte Jr. attributed the increased collection following his appointment on April 27 to the “full support and cooperation of this Port to the plans and programs of BOC Commissioner Isidro S. Lapeña, and SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma.”

Eisma, meanwhile, cited the SBMA’s “long-standing cooperation with Subic Customs in going after those who seek to profit by illegal means” and recalled that joint operations by the SBMA Law Enforcement Department and the BOC-Port of Subic had resulted in the seizure of highly dutiable items like vehicles, wines and liquors, as well as imported rice.

“I’m glad that BOC personnel in Subic are very cooperative with the SBMA in curbing smuggling, as this illegal activity bleeds our economy dry,” Eisma added.

Barte also said that from January to June this year, BOC-Subic posted a total of P6.91 billion in revenue contributions from Subic’s Top 20 port users alone.

The top ten payers are: PTT Philippines Corp. with P1.43 billion, the highest revenue contributor so far this year; Cebu Air, Inc., P921.9 million; Micro Dragon Petroleum, Inc., P663.9 million; Marubeni Philippines, Corp., P456.9 million; RK3 International Trading, Inc., P446.5 million; High Glory Subic Int’l Logistics, Inc., P372.5 million; Warbucks Industries Corp., P341 million; Insular Oil Corp., P314 million; United Auctioneers, Inc., P310.3 million; and Murami Subic Trading Corp., P259.7 million.

The others are: Petron Corporation, with P216.7 million; Filoil Logistics Corp., P177.7; Masinloc Power Partners Co., Ltd, P162.9 million; Era1 Petroleum corp., P145.7 million; Nestle Philippines, Inc., P135.7 million; Rockoil Central Trading Corp., P130.9 million; Phoenix Petroleum Philippines, Inc., P130.9 million; Pilipinas Shell Petroleum, P114.3 million; PMFTC, Inc., P106.9 million; and Apollo Subic Int’l Trading Corp., P67.9 million.

Barte also said that BOC-Subic will prioritize its drive to meet or even surpass targets for the remaining months of July to December this year. He likewise vowed full support to the SBMA thrust of developing Subic into a global player in logistics. (RFD/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:

District Collector Segundo Sigmundfreud Z. Barte Jr. tells about growing customs collection in the Subic Bay Freeport during a media briefing organized by the SBMA on Monday. (MPD-SBMA)

Read More

SBMA, BOC close ranks to beat smuggling

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) threw its full support to the government’s anti-smuggling campaign by signing a cooperation agreement with the Bureau of Customs (BOC) to improve the latter’s capability in flushing out illegal activities in the Port of Subic.

SBMA Chairperson and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma signed an accord last Friday with Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña for the construction of a new building here to house the Port of Subic’s BOC office, as well as a training facility for the proposed Customs Academy.

The Philippines is reportedly one the few remaining countries in the world that lacked an official school for its Customs personnel.

“We’re a hundred percent in support of this project because we are aware of what this means to the Philippine economy, to law enforcement, as well as to the local industries and image of the Subic Bay Freeport as a center of commerce,” Eisma said.

“Smuggling bleeds the economy dry, and everything we have been building in Subic all these years would come to naught if illegal activities like this were not stopped,” she added.

Eisma pointed out that the SBMA, particularly its Law Enforcement Department, has been working closely with the BOC in combatting smuggling.

Last December, SBMA law enforcers foiled an attempt to bring out of the Subic Freeport some P40-million worth of expensive liquors. The agency’s Seaport Department also blacklisted brokers found to be involved in that smuggling operation, Eisma said.

Eisma and Lapeña, along with Port of Subic District Collector Fidel Villanueva and Philippine International Trading Corp. President and CEO Dave Almarinez, also inspected on Friday three shipments that were seized by the Subic BOC for various violations of customs laws.

The first shipment involved a 10x20 container van of Thailand white rice with an estimated value of P10 million that lacked the required import permit from the National Food Administration.

Lapeña said the supposed consignee, the Philippine International Trading Corp. (PITC), which is the trading arm of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), had denied ownership of the said through its President, Dave Almarinez.

The Subic BOC also confiscated 18 units of Vespa scooters from Italy, a part of a 112-unit shipment worth P30 million, which were seized for gross undervaluation and falsification of import documents. Lapeña said the undervaluation resulted in a discrepancy of more than 70 percent of the dutie4s and taxes due thereon.

The third shipment consisted of 8,865 bottles of expensive liquors and spirits that the SBMA turned over to the BOC after seizure in late December.

Lapeña said the liquors were initially admitted into the Subic Bay Freeport for storage and eventual re-exportation, but were boarded in a close van in an attempt to smuggle them out of Subic to avoid payment of duties and taxes.

In the same day, the SBMA and the BOC recognized the top 10 companies in the Subic Bay Freeport that contributed the most revenue to the Port of Subic last year.

“These are two side of the same coin,” Eisma said at the sidelines of the awarding ceremony at the BOC office here. “We seize contraband to deter smuggling, but we also praise those who follow the law and help us grow the Subic economy.”

Among those cited as top revenue contributors in Subic are: Micro Dragon Petroleum Inc., United Auctioneers Inc., Filoil Logistics Corp., PTT Philippines Corp., Petron Corp., and Murami Subic Trading Corp. (HEE/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTOS:

[1] SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma and Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña sign an agreement for the construction in the Subic Bay Freeport of a building to house the Customs office in the Port of Subic and a training facility for the proposed Customs Academy. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

[2] SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma joins an inspection of smuggled Thailand white rice seized at the port of Subic with (from left): Port of Subic District Collector Fidel Villanueva, Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña, and Philippine International Trading Corp. President and CEO Dave Almarinez. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

[3] SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma (standing in second row) joins Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña and other officials of the Port of Subic in recognizing the top 10 companies that contributed the most revenue to the Port of Subic in 2017. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

Read More

SBMA bans 3 brokers in P40-M liquor smuggling try

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) has blacklisted three customs brokers for involvement in the attempted smuggling here recently of expensive liquor worth around P40 million.

SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma said this was the initial action of the agency in connection with the smuggling attempt that was foiled by the SBMA Law Enforcement Department (SBMA-LED) just before Christmas.

The SBMA Seaport Department has identified the blacklisted brokers as Ellen Baylon, an authorized representative of the brokerage firm Alava Alliance, Inc.; John Louie Pabico, a processor of Phil-Hohan International Corp.; and Cherry Springael, a freelance processor and authorized representative of Alava Alliance.

“These persons have been banned from doing business with the SBMA Seaport, and the companies they represented have been placed on indefinite suspension pending the final results of investigation by the Bureau of Customs (BOC),” Eisma added.

She added that the BOC, which received custody of the smuggled items from the SBMA, will also file appropriate criminal charges against the brokers for violation of the Customs and Tariff Act, as well as Republic Act 7227, or the Bases Conversion and Development Act.

“Let this serve as a warning that Subic authorities won’t tolerate illegal activities in the Freeport, and we will apply the full measure of the law in cases like this,” Eisma added.

The SBMA said earlier that its law enforcement operatives seized a total of 1,321 boxes of liquor from a closed van that was about to leave the Freeport on Dec. 24, and from a 40-footer container van parked at the Subic Seaport Terminal on Dec. 28.

The seized contraband included 54 bottles of Remy Martin Louis XIII, which sells as much as P170,000 per bottle, and eight boxes of Remy Martin Centaure De Diamant, which fetches P60,000 per bottle.

The SBMA police began the operation on Christmas Eve after a tipster informed them that a closed van and a Nissan Patrol SUV would attempt to smuggle contraband from the Freeport.

Subsequently, SBMA-LED operatives posted along the Argonaut Highway leading to Subic’s sea ports monitored the vehicles and tailed them to the 14th Street Gate where they were stopped by sentries.

The Fuso van, bearing File No. 036404 of BCR Trucking, was found to contain 275 boxes of Remy Martin Cognac Champagne, 448 boxes of Martini, 66 boxes of Remy Martin XO, 17 boxes of Remy Martin Champagne, 8 boxes of Remy Martin Louis XIII, 8 boxes of Remy Martin Centaure De Diamant, 7 boxes of Remy Martin Club, and 7 boxes of Remy Martin.

The driver, identified as 41-year old Julio Flores, as well as the helper, 46-year old Marvin Arcega, failed to present necessary documents when accosted by the police, the SBMA-LED said in a report.

Under investigation, Flores reported that he picked up the merchandise from the Subic Seaport Terminal Inc. (SSTI) at the Boton Pier here on instruction of a certain “Ed” who rented his truck for the pickup.

Flores added that a certain “Cherry” assured him that the goods were ready for exit at Subic’s Tipo gate even without any document because two other trucks with similar load were able to exit so.

With this information, SBMA operatives conducted a follow-up operation on Thursday that led them to a white Isuzu Giga cab with the markings “Sinfa Logistics Inc.” that was parked at the SSTI’s Boton Pier facility. The 40-footer container yielded 333 boxes of Remy Martin, 196 boxes of Remy Martin XO, 1 box of Remy Martin Club, 1 box of Martini, 2 boxes of Remy Martin, and 10 boxes of Remy Martin Louis XIII.

Eisma said the SBMA police conducted an inventory of the smuggled items in the presence of representatives from the Bureau of Customs, the SBMA Seaport Department and members of the media before turning over the confiscated items and the vehicles containing them to the Bureau of Customs in the Port of Subic. (HEE/MPD-SBMA)

Read More

SBMA police seize P40 million smuggled liquor

Police operatives from the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) foiled an attempt to smuggle more than P40-million worth of liquor here and seized the contraband even before they could be spirited out of the Subic Bay Freeport on Christmas Eve.

The SBMA Law Enforcement Department seized a total of 1,321 boxes of expensive liquor from a closed van that was about to leave the Freeport on Dec. 24, and from a 40-footer container van parked at the Subic Seaport Terminal.

SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma lauded the alertness and efficacy of the SBMA law enforcers in foiling the smuggling attempt.

“Some unscrupulous parties would really take advantage of the Christmas season to try to pull away illegal activities in the Freeport, but this only proves that the SBMA Law Enforcement Department is ready at all times to do their duty,” Eisma said after receiving the report.

“This is a job well done for the SBMA and another huge failure for those who try to use Subic for their smuggling operation,” Eisma added.

According to a report by Maj. Vicente Tolentino, head of the SBMA Law Enforcement Department, the seized contraband included 54 bottles of Remy Martin Louis XIII, which sells as much as P170,000 per bottle, and eight boxes of Remy Martin Centaure De Diamant, which fetches P60,000 per bottle.

Tolentino said the SBMA police began the operation on Christmas Eve after a tipster informed them that a closed van and a Nissan Patrol SUV would attempt to smuggle contraband from the Freeport.

He said that operatives posted along the Argonaut Highway monitored the vehicles and tailed them to the 14th Street Gate where they were stopped by sentries.

The Fuso van, bearing File No. 036404 of BCR Trucking, was driven by 41-year old Julio Flores, along with helper Marvin Arcega, 46 years old. The two failed to present necessary documents when accosted by the police, Tolentino said.

The van contained 275 boxes of Remy Martin Cognac Champagne, 448 boxes of Martini, 66 boxes of Remy Martin XO, 17 boxes of Remy Martin Champagne, 8 boxes of Remy Martin Louis XIII, 8 boxes of Remy Martin Centaure De Diamant, 7 boxes of Remy Martin Club, and 7 boxes of Remy Martin.

A follow-up operation on Thursday led operatives to a white Isuzu Giga cab with the markings “Sinfa Logistics Inc.”, which was parked at the Subic Seaport Terminal in the Boton Wharf.

The 40-footer container van on its trailer contained the rest of the contraband: 333 boxes of Remy Martin, 196 boxes of Remy Martin XO, 1 box of Remy Martin Club, 1 box of Martini, 2 boxes of Remy Martin, and 10 boxes of Remy Martin Louis XIII.

Tolentino said the SBMA police conducted an inventory of the smuggled items last Thursday and Friday in the presence of representatives from the Bureau of Customs, the SBMA Seaport Department and members of the media.

On Friday, Tolentino formally turned over the items and the vehicles containing them to Ciriaco Ugay, OIC-Collector of the Bureau of Customs in the Port of Subic. (JEE/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:

SBMA police operatives and workers unload boxes of smuggled liquor for inventory at the Law Enforcement Department office on Friday. (JRR/MPD-SBMA)

Read More