No hike in customs tariff rates – Palace
No increase in custom tariffs could be implemented without the approval of Congress, a Palace official insisted on Friday in the wake of concerns raised by some sectors about the supposed hike on shipment costs of balikbayan boxes. Deputy presidential spokeswoman Abigail Valte admitted the Palace is unaware about the supposed higher custom levies on balikbayan boxes and would still verify the matter with the Department of Finance (DOF). “We also want to know more about it. Ang sa akin po kasi, ang pagkakaalam ko, hindi ho pwedeng magtaas ng tariff nang wala hong approval either via treaty or by Congress [We also want to know more about it. To my knowledge, tariffs could not be increased without the approval either via treaty or by Congress],” Valte said in a Palace press briefing. Valte noted that the supposed higher custom duty on incoming cargos was discussed in a recent House [...]