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SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPL]}3I IC

OF THE PHILIPPIn.ES
Thircl Regular Session

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24 P I CI6

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SRNAT}i

P. s. R.

No. 1534_._

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Introcluced b1, Senator N4iriam f)efensor Santiagt>

RESOLUTI()N

DIRECTING 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
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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 for
the 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 tltat
rvill ensure tbe prosperity aud independt:nce of the uation aucl ti'ec: thc peopJc
frorn pr>vcrty through poliuics thflt previdc- aclequate social scrn'ices. prornote full
employnrent, a rising standarrd of livirrg. ancl arr improvecl cluality of tifc fbr all;

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

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

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

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

will

be implenrentecl arrrid fears tlrrrt shipping privileges are bcirlg

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rules on baliktrayal btrxcs

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to strtr.rggle goods inttl the cotlntry:

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r-rsecl

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

are

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sc:nd itcrls tl'rat

otrs'lete and wiclcly rniscolrstruecl. adding thtt hasecl on BoC spot chcck-s' OF\f,rs

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

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itcms valued higher

WHEREAS, L,ina also allcgccl that balikbayan boxes ottelr contain
(JI-Ws arc scncling lrore than the ruaxiurum olot're cot.rsigrlrlle'lt per
tha.nthe $i5o0 limit. rrnci tlrat

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scndet per mouthl

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WFIEREAS. rrn

2l August

will not include highcr taxes

of existing Iaws;

20 15. the C'ustonrs

chief qlaimed tlral tire conternplatecl mles

1'or balikba-r,rrrr taxes. ancl nTcr'!-llr seek

to ir:lprovc lhe enlbrceme-nt

lvith rrnd sterrl f-rom balikbal'an boxes. nttcl urgecl setrdcrrs or

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Custt'rnrs errrployees tarnper

recipients of such boxes to lodgc lirrmal cr>rtrplaintst

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

20l5 protestecl the BC)C plnrr. clninrinq

AugusL

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

tlr;-rt,

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thc contcmplatecl f[iles arc ()pen to al)use by

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

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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:

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

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

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policies;

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

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

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tr6xes. oftc-n c[irrrpels

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of intirnate c-,r)trtntttnicatitltt iltrtong thrniliesl

WHpREAS. in the perfornrance

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its rnandate ttl scrtltitlize ell slripureuts into tl,e

of Custorns rlfust corrstrntlv irrrprove its fhcilities. to include. alllor)g othe|s'

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colrntr)r, the Buresr.r

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non-iDtrusivc inspecti

c'trt

equiPtnent

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

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w'ill tre atlbctr:cl by'

ptrblic policy. all goverrunent aBcrrcies rnust corrsult vri[h sl-ahelrolders tlrat
contemplated lau,s. larles. or issuances:

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

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

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

WHERE.AS.

it is also

irrcuulbc-nt upc'rn C<)ngress, as

it reviervs the lrroposed

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

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Getrelal

restrl(s of prograrts aimed

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

\\/I-IEREFORE. BE If'HERERY RDSOLVED BY THli PHILIPPINE SENATE

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direct

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

Burear.r

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

Arlopted.

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