SAYING the government lost over P423 billion from 2012 to 2016 in uncollected duties and VAT due to the variance in the total importation from China, Senator Richard J. Gordon said it is time to pull the plug in the country’s smuggling.
He said this move would ensure that the government would have funds for development projects and to provide for the country’s needs, among others.
He stressed that the government incurred losses because of the variance arising from technical smuggling by misdeclaration or undervaluation of goods.
“China is a big souce of variance. It wil be difficult for exporters to deceive China because it gives rebate to exporters with the right export,” said Gordon.
Gordon, who chairs the Senate Accountability of Public Officers and Investigations or Blue Ribbon, pointed out that total collection from the variance in Chinese importation alone could have solved some of the country’s problems such as the shortage in classrooms, strengthening the military’s capability and others.