MANILA, 1 July 2005 — Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) are not spared by stricter Customs inspection at Philippine international passenger terminals but the benefits and privileges they enjoy won’t be affected, the Bureau of Customs has said.
In a letter to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Customs Commissioner Alberto Lina said the stringent inspections are meant to raise duty collection at the airports by one million pesos.
However, Lina said, the new policy is “not meant to restrict, limit, or curtail the benefits and privileges enjoyed by OFWs, returning residents, balikbayans, tourists, and other foreign travelers.”
He assured the public that the inspection and examination of baggage, including personal effects, pasalubong, gifts, or donations brought in by arriving passengers are being conducted by “well-trained customs front liners in the most expeditious, convenient and orderly manner.”
According to the DFA in a press statement Wednesday, Lina wrote in answer to queries by OFWs about the new policy, which started May 1.
The DFA said it had been swamped by complaints or inquiries by migrant workers and balikbayans worried that the cash Arroyo government was taking back what previous administrations had granted to one of the country’s pillars.
The dollar remittances of overseas Filipinos has been credited for helping keep the faltering Philippine economy afloat over the past two decades.
Last year, remittances by overseas Filipinos now numbering more than 7 million was recorded by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (central bank) at about $8.5 billion.
Lina clarified that the one million-peso daily collection target “is not a quota and was merely a projection on the basis of the volume of incoming passengers,” according to the DFA.
The new program aims to collect the correct duties and taxes on luxury items, jewelry, expensive wrist watches, software, electronic, digital and communication device, and other articles of commercial quantities brought in by Filipino and foreign travelers who are neither classified as OFWs, returning residents, nor balikbayan, he explained.
Returning government officials and functionaries, including their families or entourage traveling abroad, are not exempted from this policy, Lina added.
Customs officials said they have relaxed inspections the past years in line with the government’s tourist-friendly policy.
However, the policy had been taken advantage of by unscrupulous traders. In certain cases, OFWs are reportedly used by such traders to bring in items of commercial quantity, thus depriving the government of revenues from potential taxes and duties.
