Skip to content
OurVote2022logo
mindanews-fact-check-logo-1
  • Business
  • Peace Process
  • Governance
  • Travel
  • Arts & Culture
  • Special Reports
  • Mindaviews
  • Pictures
Menu
  • Business
  • Peace Process
  • Governance
  • Travel
  • Arts & Culture
  • Special Reports
  • Mindaviews
  • Pictures

BOC extends validity of importer’s license to 3 years

  • Antonio L. Colina IV

-

  • July 24, 2015
Share this story

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/24 July) — Mindanao importers may now heave a sigh of relief after the Bureau of Customs (BOC) announced Thursday it will extend the validity of importers’ licenses from one year to three years.

In an interview during the Mindanao Exporters’ Congress at the SMX Convention Center Davao, BOC Commissioner Alberto Lina said the bureau decided to extend the validity of the licenses since the prior licenses the importers will have to secure from the Bureau of Internal Revenue have a validity of three years.

He said this will make the local players more competitive by the time the Asean Economic Community takes effect by end of this year, a development that will open the country to more investment from its neighbors in the region.

When sought for comment, Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association executive director Stephen Antig said the ew BOC policy will help the industry to some extent, considering that some of the materials used by banana companies are imported.

“I just hope they will be able to implement that,” he said, adding there’s not much that concerns the local banana players when it comes to exporting except the tariff rates.

He said what worries local banana producers is that neighboring countries like Indonesia and Vietnam are exporting at zero tariff rates to Japan, the largest market of the Philippines.

Local banana exporters pay 18-percent tariff rates during the winter (December to February) and 8 percent during summer (June to August).

“We are pressuring the DA (Department of Agriculture) and DTI (Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to re-negotiate our tariff with PJEPA (Philippines-Japan Economic Partnership (PJEPA),” he said, adding that failure to further lower tariff rates will eventually kill the banana industry in Mindanao.

Antig said they are set to meet with DA secretary Proceso Alcala on July 30 in Davao City to discuss the matter.

Export volume to Japan and other markets such as South Korea and the Middle East decreased by 10 to 15 percent so far this year compared to last year.

The industry has been hit hard by Typhoon Pablo that hit Mindanao in December 2012 and damaged a total of 15,000 hectares.

Many farmers in the areas hit by Pablo either abandoned or did not rehabilitate their farms.

“Maraming hindi nag-rehabilitate which means it will be less income for the local government and less employment,” Antig said.

The industry has also been bugged by the Fusarium Wilt, also known as Panama disease.

Mindanao has a total area of 80,000 hectares planted to bananas, of which 24,000 hectares are owned and developed by small and medium banana growers, employing some 200,000 direct workers. (Antonio L. Colina IV/MindaNews)

Your perspective matters! Leave a comment below and let us know what you think. We welcome diverse viewpoints and encourage respectful discussions. Don't hesitate to share your ideas or engage with others.
Advertisement
Rakrakan
Follow us on Facebook
Facebook
The MindaNews Podcast
-- ad here--

TOP STORIES

Group wants Surigao cult leader jailed for safety of witnesses

Froilan Gallardo September 29, 2023 7:57 pm

P35 daily hike for Region 12 minimum wage earners

Bong S. Sarmiento September 29, 2023 2:51 pm

FACT CHECK: (Updated) Maguindanao Norte workers debunk Hataman’s claim of no wages for 4 months

Fact Check September 28, 2023 3:00 pm

Davao councilor alarmed over surge in dengue cases, deaths

Miah Christine Bontilao September 27, 2023 6:56 pm

BARMM police to deploy 1,000 personnel in Lanao Sur for election duties

Ferdinandh B. Cabrera September 27, 2023 5:36 pm

MINDAVIEWS

UNDERSTANDING OUR HERITAGE: The Allure Of Gold 

Greg Hontiveros September 24, 2023 5:57 pm

TURNING POINT: The Toothless Price Cap

William R. Adan September 19, 2023 10:39 am

UNDERSTANDING OUR HERITAGE (2): The Hindu-Buddist influences in our culture

Greg Hontiveros September 17, 2023 4:21 pm
Read more MINDAVIEWS

BUSINESS NEWS

18 homegrown cafés joining Davao Coffee Crawl

Antonio L. Colina IV September 20, 2023 3:12 pm

25 delegates from Mindanao to join international expo in Sabah

Antonio L. Colina IV September 13, 2023 2:00 pm

Senator Villar cites EU’s GSP+ during tuna congress

Bong S. Sarmiento September 7, 2023 5:21 pm

Davao Region’s inflation rate lowest in Mindanao

Antonio L. Colina IV September 5, 2023 9:53 pm

Japanese firm looking for more suppliers of coconut-based food products

Mindanews August 31, 2023 2:35 pm

95 exhibitors to join Davao Agri Trade Expo

Antonio L. Colina IV August 23, 2023 5:48 pm

ARTS & CULTURE

Sarangani writers showcase literary works in Philippine Book Festival

Genory Vanz Alfasain August 27, 2023 4:11 pm

INTERACTIVE MAP | Cagayan de Oro Higalaay Festival 2023

Yas D. Ocampo August 25, 2023 2:00 pm

Davao City Events | Palawud x Holodeck, Budots: The Craze

Mindanews August 19, 2023 10:10 am

Kadayawan Festival 2023 event guide

Yas D. Ocampo August 7, 2023 4:01 pm

The MindaNews Podcast: Aubrey DS and the creative pursuits that drive us

Mindanews July 10, 2023 7:06 pm
eric gancio of yano

The MindaNews Podcast: Davao-based Eric Gancio and the return of Yano

Yas D. Ocampo June 2, 2023 5:15 pm

MindaNews is the news service arm of the Mindanao Institute of Journalism. It is composed of independent, professional journalists who believe and practice people empowerment through media.

23C Saturn St. GSIS Subdivision, Davao City Philippines Tel. No.: 082 297 4360 editor [at] mindanews.com
Facebook Twitter

© MindaNews 2016 -2023 | All Rights Reserved

About Us

Privacy Policy