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Solon seeks probe into purchase of P150-M X-ray machines by BoC

By Gerry Baldo

07/04/2009

The House committee on oversight is readying an investigation into the purchase by the Bureau of Customs (BoC) of P150-million X-ray machines intended for its non-intrusive container inspection system.

According to Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez, chairman of the House committee on oversight, said the inquiry would determine if the machines purchased are capable of putting an end to the problem of widespread smuggling activities in the country.

"The probe will find out if the BoC’s purchase of 15 X-ray machines worth P150 million, made possible through a loan, would help the government curb and eliminate smuggling transactions in the country and if such purchase was done properly," said Suarez who filed House Resolution (HR) 319 to call for the investigation.

Suarez said sometime in 2006, the BoC started using the X-ray machines purchased from China which have been deployed in major airports and ports across the country.

"At present, however, there has been no official report on the status and effectiveness of the 15 X-ray machines on which the government reportedly spent hundreds of millions of pesos for their purchase," Suarez said.

He added the BoC even intends to buy additional X-ray machines to further enhance its ongoing campaign against smuggling.

"It is vital to know whether the project has actually benefited the BoC and if it has helped in the crusade against smuggling before additional units are again procured. We cannot ignore and turn a blind eye to another potential squandering of public funds should the same be proven to be a mere whim and caprice of the BoC only to the gain of unscrupulous officials in government," Suarez said.

The Suarez resolution seeks to inquire into the new technology adopted by the BoC.

"With the changes on how E-commerce is done and with the ever changing business environment where real time processing and logistics are required, the BoC has adopted a new technology. In justifying the use of X-ray machines, the BoC earlier had said these were needed to streamline its procedures in the delivery of customs services or the NCIS," he said.