Publish Date : 08-Jul-2014
New X-Ray machines deployed at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) have generated incremental revenues as the Bureau of Customs (BOC) beefed-up its capability to detect highly taxable items such as jewelery, luxury watches, designer bags, undeclared foreign currencies, and even prohibited drugs hidden in travelers’ luggage.
"So far, the new fixed X-Ray machines in NAIA have made significant headways in ensuring that duties and taxes are properly paid, and at the same time, prompted the seizure of undeclared, high-value items," said Julito Doria, Office-in-Charge of the BOC X-Ray Inspection Project.
Doria noted that BOC-NAIA alone collected revenues of P972,977.50 from May to June 2014 from duties and taxes paid by airline passengers on goods detected in their luggage by X-Ray. These items include luxury watches, electronic goods of commercial quantity, assorted machine parts and jewelry.
Last May, four state-of-the-art fixed baggage Nutech X-ray machines were deployed at NAIA Terminals 1, 2 and 3—the first tranche of eight (8) fixed baggage X-Ray machines purchased by the BOC early this year. Aside from NAIA, two (2) other X-Ray machines have also been deployed at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport; and one (1) each at the Clark International Airport in Pampanga and the Kalibo International Airport in Aklan. The Bureau allocated about P145-Million for the purchase of new X-Ray machines.
"The additional x-ray machines will allow us to better detect contraband goods being smuggled in by airline passengers, rather than just relying on profiling techniques. It will allow us to release luggage faster and improve the traveling experience for passengers," Doria added.
Improving customs processes at the country's airports is a priority project of Customs Commissioner John P. Sevilla. Last April, BOC scrapped the mandatory Customs Declaration Form for passengers arriving on international flights if they carry only goods that are duty-free and required passengers to queue at either the red or green lane for customs clearance at the airport. The Green lane is for those with "Nothing to Declare," meaning they do not have items in their baggage that are not subject to duties and taxes, can be brought-in duty-free and are not subject to any import prohibition, regulation or restriction. On the other hand, the Red lane is for passengers who bring-in goods are subject to import duties or taxes, are above the exempted Customs limits, or are prohibited, controlled or regulated by several statues. The Bureau plans to procure additional fixed X-Ray machines this year, aside from at least six hand-held X-Ray units and four mobile X-Ray machines. These will be deployed in international airports in the country, including those in Laoag and Davao.
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