By Ferdinand Patinio
MANILA – Three outbound parcels containing agarwood, a regulated forest product, with a total estimated street value of PHP9 million, were recently intercepted at a warehouse facility in Pasay City, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) reported Friday.
In a news release, the bureau said the shipments were declared dried “alingatong” wood chips but were flagged by X-ray inspection on Sept. 10.
Marked for examination, the packages were subjected to 100 percent physical inspection, which revealed 3.80 kilograms, 4.10 kilograms, and 4.52 kilograms of agarwood, respectively, instead of the declared items.
District Collector Alexandra Lumontad said the seized shipments, valued at PHP9.3 million, were placed under the custody of BOC-Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), in coordination with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
“Through strict cargo monitoring and inter-agency collaboration, BOC-NAIA ensures that our international gateways will not be exploited for the trafficking of illegal forest products,” he said.
The attempted misdeclaration constitutes violations of Republic Act Nos.10863 (Customs Modernization and Tariff Act) and 9147 (Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act), and Presidential Decree No. 705 (Revised Forestry Code of the Philippines).
“This interception reinforces our commitment to safeguarding the country’s natural resources and preventing the illegal trade of endangered species. The Bureau of Customs will continue to intensify enforcement to protect biodiversity and ensure compliance with environmental laws,” BOC Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno said. (PNA)
