MANILA - The Bureau of Customs (BOC) on Friday donated imported food items and footwear to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for the victims of Typhoon Odette.

During the turnover ceremony led by Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero, the bureau through its Auction and Cargo Disposal Division, donated sacks of rice and footwear which were abandoned in three ports.

These are Port of Batangas (POB), Manila International Container Port (MICP), and Port of Manila (POM).

The donated goods consist of 5,200 sacks of rice, 91,200 canned goods, and 81,200 pairs of footwear, which arrived at the POB, MICP, and POM, respectively.

Decrees of abandonment were issued declaring the 10 x 20 containers of Vietnam rice and a 1 x 40 container of footwear as abandoned under Section 1129 of the Customs and Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA) after failing to file the corresponding goods declaration for the shipments within the prescribed period.

Meanwhile, the 2x20 containers of canned goods were seized and forfeited for violation of Section 1400 concerning Sections 117 and 1113 of CMTA.

In his message, Guerrero assured that they will continue to safeguard the interest of the public and will ensure the speedy processing of donations received by the country to respond to the needs of the Filipino people, especially at this critical time.

The turnover ceremony was attended by DSWD National Resource Operations Center director Emmanuel Privado and staff members Mark Poul Agner and Jesrel Migrato.

Representing the BOC were lawyer Edward James A. Dy Buco, Deputy Commissioner of Assessment and Operations Coordinating Group, Donato B. San Juan, Deputy Commissioner of Internal Administration Group, and Raniel T. Ramiro, Deputy Commissioner of, POB district collerctor, lawyer Ma. Rhea M. Gregorio, MICP district collector Romeo Allan Rosales, together with Deputy Collectors, lawyers Kriden Balgomera and Ma. Liza Sebastian.

Privado, on behalf of the DSWD, thanked the BOC for the untiring support to the agency especially in the facilitation of foreign donations at this challenging time.

The disposal through the donation of the said goods is under Sections 1141 and 1149 of the CMTA. (PNA)