Lina promises reforms at the customs bureau

Newly appointed Customs Commissioner Alberto Lina vowed yesterday to carry out major reforms at the Bureau of Customs (BoC) to build a conducive atmosphere for business enterprise to lure investors to the country.

In a speech after accepting the ceremonial flag from outgoing Commissioner George Jereos, Lina stressed that with the dawn of the age of globalization, there is a great need to act decisively to "make us attractive investment-wise."

On the same occasion, the new chief of the Intelligence and Enforcement Group (IEG) Deputy Customs Commissioner Celso Templo reported to Lina the seizure of a big shipment of smuggled Kia cars in 21 container vans from South Korea at the Port of Davao.

Templo told the new Customs chief that the smuggled cars had been declared as mere "spare parts" to avoid payment of correct taxes and duties.
Templo, who was scheduled to fly to Davao Friday to witness the opening of the seized container vans, withheld the names of the people behind the smuggling attempt.

He said that smuggling syndicates had shifted their operation at the subports in the provinces because of the very strict monitoring of all shipments at the port of Manila.
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