F*)'.1 I lt_i

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPL]}3I ICOF THE PHILIPPIn.ES

Thircl Regular Session

l--1 n-r,:. :41= 1: 12Pt'1 FlFFIDT'1

t{nu"l*ffi'-:.li {.;"

-$rrrrste(0lf.rr',f t[r. Srrr{r11

'i5 f\uG 24 P I CI6

)

))

SRNAT}iP. s. R. No. 1534_._

Introcluced b1, Senator N4iriam f)efensor Santiagt>

' ;.:'i..:i\'f,tlr .rJ Y Ld**

1

1

3

4

5

6

7

8

RESOLUTI()NDIRECTING THE PROPF.R SEN,,\ l-E C:O\4 Iv{ITTtrIl

TO CONDI.IC]'T AN TNQL]IRY. IN AID OIi LEGI:JI-ATION^ON THE REPORT THA'| THE BLTREAU OF CI-ISTON4S PLNNS

TO IN']-RUSIVELY INSPECT AND FURTHER I AX BALIKBAYAN BOXES

WFIEREAS. the Constitrrtion providcs, in Alticle 2, Sections 5 and 9:

Scction 5. The rnainterrance of peace ancl orcler. thc' protcction ol life.liberty, alld propcrty. and the pronrotion ol the general welfare are esse-ntial forthe eqjoynrent by all the people of the trlessings of democracl.:

Sectic>n 9. The State shrrl I prornote a just and cly'namis social orrJer tltatrvill ensure tbe prosperity aud independt:nce of the uation aucl ti'ec: thc peopJcfrorn pr>vcrty through poliuics thflt previdc- aclequate social scrn'ices. prornote fullemploynrent, a rising standarrd of livirrg. ancl arr improvecl cluality of tifc fbr all;

'vVHEREAS. r'ariousl news organization-s in August reported that the Bulearr of Custorns

(BOCt plarls to intrusively irrspcct and fr.rrthet'tax shjprnL:nts ovcrseas Filipino workLrl's (OIiWs)

serrd to thc Philipl'ritrcs through dr,rty- attcl tarx-ti'ee Lrzrliktrayart [:roxc'sl

WFIEREAS. quoting Custtxrs Commissiorrcr Alhcrtr-r Lina, tire mcclia saicl tlral thc trew'

rules on baliktrayal btrxcs will be implenrentecl arrrid fears tlrrrt shipping privileges are bcirlg r-rsecl

to strtr.rggle goods inttl the cotlntry:

WI-ItrREAS, the Customs chiel clairnccl that existing laws on balikkrayitn bcrxcs are

otrs'lete and wiclcly rniscolrstruecl. adding thtt hasecl on BoC spot chcck-s' OF\f,rs sc:nd itcrls tl'rat

may be used for commerc:ial 1>urposes. contrary to the lawl

WHEREAS, L,ina also allcgccl that balikbayan boxes ottelr contain itcms valued higher

tha.nthe $i5o0 limit. rrnci tlrat (JI-Ws arc scncling lrore than the ruaxiurum olot're cot.rsigrlrlle'lt per

scndet per mouthl

L)

10

t1

t2

I-l

14

15

16

t7

t8

1!)

20

!.1 H,,r,-j. :Lt15 1 : 13Pr"1 F=FFt:tt"l FA:", l.lrl

WFIEREAS. rrn 2l August 20 15. the C'ustonrs chief qlaimed tlral tire conternplatecl mles

will not include highcr taxes 1'or balikba-r,rrrr taxes. ancl nTcr'!-llr seek to ir:lprovc lhe enlbrceme-nt

of existing Iaws;

WHEREAS. Lina holvever reporteclly adnrittecl tirat tl'rere have treen accusations that

Custt'rnrs errrployees tarnper lvith rrnd sterrl f-rom balikbal'an boxes. nttcl urgecl setrdcrrs or

recipients of such boxes to lodgc lirrmal cr>rtrplaintst

WHERIIAS" a signature canrpaigr.r po,sted on online petitiolr platfirnn Change.org on 21

AugusL 20l5 protestecl the BC)C plnrr. clninrinq tlr;-rt, thc contcmplatecl f[iles arc ()pen to al)use by

employees of tlre Bureirtr of Ctrstorns, lrercciYed as olre of the most con'upt agenci(-s;

WHERET\S. sL-lnte 78.000 l;ilipino netizens. uran_v of tirenr OFWs arrd merrrbers of their

Iirmilies. ha','e sigrred the petition srs of the tiling of ttris re.soluti<)n:

WI-IEREAS. OFWs. fi'eigl-rt ftrr*'arders. atld other stakeholders lratve reportedly

crurplained that the Crrstoms fhilcd to ct'rnsult thcnr on plar.rnecl changes irr halikbayan box

policies;

WHEREAS" the governflent lllllst strirze lrr achic:vc tlre delicate balance tletrveen, on thc

onc ha1d. lul filling its rlanclatt: to curb smtrggling. ancl. orr tlre other, protcLrtil'tg balikbayan

tr6xes. oftc-n c[irrrpels of intirnate c-,r)trtntttnicatitltt iltrtong thrniliesl

WHpREAS. in the perfornrance <-rf its rnandate ttl scrtltitlize ell slripureuts into tl,e

colrntr)r, the Buresr.r of Custorns rlfust corrstrntlv irrrprove its fhcilities. to include. alllor)g othe|s'

non-iDtrusivc inspecti c'trt equiPtnent ;

WHEREAS, in the interest of trrrrrslllrency. and iu orcler to ensure citizen pilrticipartion in

ptrblic policy. all goverrunent aBcrrcies rnust corrsult vri[h sl-ahelrolders tlrat w'ill tre atlbctr:cl by'

contemplated lau,s. larles. or issuances:

I

)

3

4

-5

6

7

8

9

10

ll

l2

I3

l4

t5

16

L7

l8

19

20

21

?2

1

FF]_tl'1 FH::,,; t.lt:t. :-1 Ar_r!. .rr:]li 1: 1.1Ft''1 F',l

I WHEREAS, Congress nru-st strengthen existitrg legislation govcrning the llurcau of

2 Cttstorts in ordcr ltrr tire agencl, to bcttcr perflor:m its rrrandate of crllle<;ting cluties. fighting

3 snruggling. and Ibcilitating shipments. including balil<ha-n.'an boxesi

4 WHERE.AS. it is also irrcuulbc-nt upc'rn C<)ngress, as it reviervs the lrroposed Getrelal

-5 Appropdations Act o{:2016. to clcrr,arrd fi'om t}re Bureau of Clustonts restrl(s of prograrts aimed

6 at curbing grall rrnd c<-rrn:Irtit-rtr withir, tlre agency:

7 \\/I-IEREFORE. BE If'HERERY RDSOLVED BY THli PHILIPPINE SENATE 1o direct

8 the proper Scnate comrnittec to couduct an irrclr-riry. in aid of legislation, on the re-port that thc

9 Burear.r of Crrstorns plarrs to intrusirrely irrs;rcct ancl furllter tax lrelikbal,an boxcs.

Arlopted.

ffi,fum"*,#/l(ampo823 l-5

3