MANILA – The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Wednesday warned importers allegedly involved in the overstaying of imported rice in ports in Manila.
This came after 888 shipping vans containing more than 20,000 metric tons (MT) of imported rice were reportedly overstaying, with some staying in the port for nine months.
"Definitely, kailangan i-blacklist iyong mga ganoong klaseng (we need to blacklist these kinds of) importers,” DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said in an ambush interview.
He said the DA’s efforts, in partnership with the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), should serve as a big warning against unscrupulous importers.
The agriculture chief, meanwhile, assured due process in investigating the reasons behind the “overstaying.”
“Of course, we have to really go look at ano ba nangyari para makita talaga (what really transpired). Maybe may justified reason naman (they have a justified reason) or whatever. We have to give fair ano din naman (process also)," Tiu Laurel said.
He, however, maintained that rice imports must be released seven days upon the shipment unloading.
The DA earlier lauded the PPA’s swift action against the possible hoarding of some consignees.
Meanwhile, PPA General Manager Jay Santiago said there are 530 containers yet to be pulled out by consignees, following the release of 300 containers over the weekend.
“Iyan pong mga overstaying na containers na yan ay pagdating po ng Oktubre ay ipagbibigay na po natin sa Department of Agriculture at ieendorso na po natin yan sa Bureau of Customs para madeklara na abandonado at ma-dispose na po nila (Those overstaying containers, come October, we will already notify the Department of Agriculture and endorse them to the Bureau of Customs to be declared abandoned and be subject to proper disposal),” he said in a separate radio interview.
For abandoned shipments, Tiu Laurel said rice imports may either be brought back to their country of origin or disposed of by destruction. (PNA)
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