Philippines Customs Clarifies Procedures for Appealing Orders on Abandoned Merchandise

The Philippines Bureau of Customs recently issued guidelines on appeals procedures for merchandise it declares abandoned. After BOC issues an order of abandonment, the “aggrieved party” may file an appeal with the district office within 15 days of receipt of the order. The district collector then has five days to decide the appeal, and another two to transmit to the commissioner of customs notice of the final decision. That decision is subject to protest. Once the order becomes final, “the subject shipments shall be immediately disposed by the concerned District Collector,” the notice said.