STOP Philippine Customs to Impose Tighter Rules for Balikbayan Boxes

The Issue

Alot of OFW were being affected of the customs to impose tighter rules for balikbayan boxes and will also put additional tax on it. We all know how much corruption is happening in customs right now. We cannot deny it. Add to that they are aggresively telling that they have the rights to open boxes, if something is missing after the inspection we have the rights to report it to the authorities. Who is the authorities they are saying? Even if that happen and we report it we all know that there will be no good output.
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Adrian LajaraPetition Starter
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Confirmed victory
This petition made change with 85,684 supporters!

The Issue

Alot of OFW were being affected of the customs to impose tighter rules for balikbayan boxes and will also put additional tax on it. We all know how much corruption is happening in customs right now. We cannot deny it. Add to that they are aggresively telling that they have the rights to open boxes, if something is missing after the inspection we have the rights to report it to the authorities. Who is the authorities they are saying? Even if that happen and we report it we all know that there will be no good output.
avatar of the starter
Adrian LajaraPetition Starter
Media inquiries

Confirmed victory

This petition made change with 85,684 supporters!

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The Decision Makers

Miriam Defensor Santiago
Miriam Defensor Santiago
Senator
Responded
“Thank you for bringing to my attention the Bureau of Customs plan to intrusively inspect and further tax balikbayan boxes sent by overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). I have filed Senate Resolution No. 1534 (http://bit.ly/1NOJfz1), calling for an inquiry, in aid of legislation, on the issue. The government must strive to achieve the delicate balance between, on the one hand, fulfilling its mandate to curb smuggling, and, on the other, protecting balikbayan boxes, which are often channels of intimate communication among families. Further, the Bureau of Customs, in the performance of its mandate to scrutinize all shipments into the country, must constantly improve its facilities, including, among others, non-intrusive inspection equipment such as X-ray scans. It is one thing to inspect balikbayan boxes, another to desecrate them. The Bureau of Customs seems aware that balikbayan boxes, when opened by their personnel, are sometimes pillaged. What have officials done to rid their ranks of thieves? As the Senate and the House of Representatives review the proposed 2016 budget, including the allocation for the Bureau of Customs, we shall demand from Customs officials results of programs aimed at curbing graft and corruption within the agency.”
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Petition created on August 20, 2015