Proposed Senate Resolution No. 1534
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Transcript of Proposed Senate Resolution No. 1534
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SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPL]}3I ICOF THE PHILIPPIn.ES
Thircl Regular Session
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SRNAT}iP. s. R. No. 1534_._
Introcluced b1, Senator N4iriam f)efensor Santiagt>
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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
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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:
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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.
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