THE Senate ways and means committee will start public hearings next week prior to crafting legislation to plug leaks in the collection of customs duties and taxes from imported goods.

This comes on the heels of a report by the Department of Finance that the government is losing nearly P150 billion a year from rampant smuggling activities in various ports and so-called economic zones in different parts of the country.

Sen. Francis Escudero, committee chairman, said those that will be summoned to testify are ranking officials of the finance department, including the chiefs of the Bureau of Customs and Bureau of Internal Revenue, the Presidential Antismuggling Group (PASG), the Philippine National Police (PNP), as well as the heads of economic zones in Clark, Cagayan and Subic free port.

He confirmed that an International Monetary Fund (IMF) report which compared export volumes from the US, China and Japan to the Philippines showed a huge discrepancy in the records on taxes supposed to have been paid when the imports were brought into Philippine ports. “Bakit pag dating dito kulang?”

Escudero told reporters yesterday they have yet to fix a date for the hearing, but added that he and Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile, who authored a resolution calling for the smuggling inquiry, agreed to set it for next week since both of them have no plans to go abroad during the monthlong congressional recess.

“Papatawag namin lahat ng opisyal na may kinalaman sa pag-iimport at pagpapasok ng anumang kargamento mula sa ibang bansa,” Escudero said.

“Simple lamang ang aming batayan, base sa IMF records kung ikukumpara natin ang volume at quantity ng mga produktong pinapadala ng ibang bansa papunta sa Pilipinas, at titingnan naman natin ang mga dokumento dito sa Pilipinas kaugnay sa mga ini-import daw mula sa ibang bansa, mayroong diperensiya at nawawalang P150 billion worth of revenue sa parte ng pamahalaan, yearly, kung kaya’t makolekta mo man lang ang kalahati nito sobra-sobra pa ’yon para matugunan ang mga pangangailangan natin sa kasalukuyang gastusin ng pamahalaan. Makolekta mo ang kabuuang yan, siguro sa darating na limang taon hindi natin kailangang magtaas ng anumang uri ng buwis, kailangan lamang nating ayusin at kolektahin ang dati nang pinapataw at binabayaran.”

He added that on top of the list of officials to be invited are Customs chief Napoleon Morales, PASG Undersecretary Antonio Villar and the PNP chiefs assigned to different areas where ports are located all over the country. “We are also inviting representatives from various industries as well as witnesses who can provide information on smuggling activities in the different ports of entry.”

Escudero added that he would also invite other witnesses Enrile may want to testify at the hearings, including those whose names will be linked to rampant smuggling. “They also have a right to air their side once their names are mentioned at the hearings. Depende kung anong pangalan ang mababanggit dahil obligasyon ng Senado na bigyan sila ng pagkakataong mapakinggan o mapakinggan ’yung panig nila. Kung ayaw nilang magpunta kawalan nila ’yon at mawawalan sila ng pagkakataong linisin ang pangalan nila kung ito man ay madadawit.”

THE Senate ways and means committee will start public hearings next week prior to crafting legislation to plug leaks in the collection of customs duties and taxes from imported goods.

Oil VAT cap ‘possible’

TWO of the country’s economic managers are open to studying the proposed cap on the value-added tax (VAT) on oil, but they would rather that the current tax system be kept in place to ensure that government programs remain well-funded.

MONETARY authorities are keeping an eye on countryside credit policies and programs as their role in helping the country achieve rice self-sufficiency is considered paramount.

THE peso yesterday gained 60 centavos against the dollar mainly from profit-taking as banks shortened long dollar positions on expectations the government may hike interest rates again to curb inflation, currency traders said.