Calling on the government to ramp up work to catch and prosecute smugglers, the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) said in a statement that oil smuggling alone has reached about P6 billion while the smuggling of various commodities were equivalent in value to about 30 percent of current imports.

While noting the work made by the present administration against smuggling, ECCP said that the smuggling of various commodities such as rice, vegetables, palm oil, light bulbs, vehicles, refined petroleum products, and other smuggled goods continued.

“The recent election has given the Aquino administration a strong affirmation of the public’s support for the anti-corruption agenda of the President and we call on all branches of government to institute lasting reforms that will attract more investments and create more jobs for a truly inclusive growth,” ECCP said.

At the same time as plugging loopholes in tax administration, ECCP also called on the bureaus of customs and of internal revenue to simplify and streamline the payment of duties and taxes to reduce the incentive for bribery and smuggling. It urged the two agencies to use the VAT system to the fullest to detect and apprehend smugglers.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer; Business; 28 May 2013