GOVERNMENT has issued the procedures in clearing cargoes in reefer vans while setting stricter guidelines on abandonment proceedings of unclaimed shipments.
Joint Administrative Order 20-01 signed April 2 by the Department of Finance, Department of Agriculture, Trade and Industry, Bureau of Customs (BOC( and the Philippine Ports Authority does not only apply to the backlog in the ports due to the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) but also covers incoming shipments during the duration of the ECQ.
Covered by the JAO are chilled, time-sensitive goods like medicines, fruits vegetables, chilled meat, and other foodstuff; frozen fish and meat and; dry goods like out-of-gauge cargoes described as heavy equipment or project cargoes stored on flatbed chassis.
The JMO orders the Bureau of Animal Industry, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Bureau of Plant Industry, National Meat Inspection Service and the Food and Drug Administration to process and approve permits and licenses for release of containers immediately or no later than three working days to unclog the ports,
For cargoes at the terminal, all refrigerated containers must be pulled out of the terminal within seven days and for chilled within five days from the issuance of the JAO. Penalties will be slapped on the consignees and the goods will be declared abandoned.
Terminal operators are directed to pull out and transfer the reefers at the cost of the owner o the box where the appropriate agency will determine if the goods are still viable. If the goods are not fit for human consumption and condemned by the BOC, shipping lines will defray the cost of condemnation.
The JAO said disposal contractors which fail to pull out the containers within five days of the issuance of the order shall pay the BOC liquidated damages and may face one-year suspension from participating in the competitive bidding process.
For arriving cargoes, theJAO provides that reefer containers scheduled to arrive after the issuance of the order must be withdrawn within 10 days from discharge or they will be declared abandoned.
The BOC will give priority processing to arriving cargoes particularly food medicines, medical and basic necessities.
The BOC may direct shipping lines to retain reefers onboard or send them back to the transshipment port.
The JAO also sets the customs clearance under COVD allowing online lodgement of goods declaration two days from the date of discharge. The BOC should issue the final assessment no later than 24 hours from the date of filing.
The BOC will continue to implement a system allowing for the online lodgment, online filing of declaration and online payments and acceptance of electronic copies of import permits
Same goes for shipping lines.
Appropriate agencies will publish a list of reefer containers pending at the port, including the name of consignees, in government websites and social media and in leading newspapers.
Operations should not also be hampered as the JAO orders shipping lines to operate from 8 a.m. to 5 p,m. and the ports and off-dock container yard facilities for 24 hours.
Violation of the provisions of the JAO shall be subject to penalties.
