New Customs procedure

No more Customs declaration form for arriving passengers


By Evelyn Macairan (The Philippine Star)
Updated March 29, 2014 - 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines - Arriving passengers on international flights who have nothing to declare will no longer be required to fill out a Customs Declaration Form.

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) issued Customs Administrative Order (CAO) 02-2014 on March 25, or the “Simplified Procedures for Clearance of Baggage of Passengers and Crew of International Airlines Arriving in International Airports of Entry.”

BOC spokesperson Charo Lagamon-Logarta yesterday said the CAO order is “one of the priority areas of reform” of the BOC under Commissioner John Phillip Sevilla.

She said it is in line with the advocacy of the agency to speed up the flow of passenger queues at the Customs area.

“This streamlining is in line with the directive of the BOC... to make it easier for the general public or passengers,” she said.

The BOC also designated two lanes for passengers and crew of arriving international flights.

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The Green Lane is for passengers and crew who have nothing to declare or have no goods for purposes of import duties and taxes, with goods that can be admitted free of import duties and taxes or do not carry any goods which are subject to import prohibition, restriction or regulation.

The Red Lane is for passengers of international airlines with goods to declare for purposes of import duties or taxes, those with goods above the exempted Customs limits, or carrying goods or articles prohibited, controlled or regulated by several statues.

The BOC said those in the Green Lane need not accomplish a Customs Declaration Form.

FRA Chili Cookoff Weekend April 4-6

Knockin' on Heavens Door

Bob Dylan watches Manny spar


By Abac Cordero (The Philippine Star)
Updated March 15, 2014 - 12:00am



Music icon Bob Dylan withh Manny Pacquiao. PHILBOXING.COM

MANILA, Philippines - Music icon Bob Dylan came to watch Manny Pacquiao train at the Wild Card Gym yesterday.

It’s a common thing for celebrities to drop by at the famous Hollywood sweatshop and watch the Filipino superstar in training.

But to have the American legend in the building is quite extra ordinary.

Dylan, whose songs “Blowin’ in the Wind” and “The Times They Are a Changin’” became synonymous to US civil rights and anti-war movement in the 1960s, watched Pacquiao in sparring.

The 72-year-old Dylan also posed for photographs with Pacquiao. They stood side-by-side and held their fists closely together.

Later on, trainer Freddie Roach said, “I think a hard rain’s a-gonna fall on Tim Bradley.”

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“Huge thrill for everyone here,” publicist Fred Sternburg tweeted.

Pacquiao is in the final phase of his training for an April 12 rematch with American Tim Bradley at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Many celebrities have come to watch Pacquiao in training over recent years, including Lou Diamond Phillips, Mark Wahlberg, Mickey Rourke, Jean Claude Van Damme and Lakers star Kobe Bryant.

Others who came to see Pacquiao up close include Jeremy Rener, Denzel Washington, Steven Seagal, Robert Duval, Jeremy Piven, Michael Payne, Don Rickles, Christian Bale and Jessica Alba.

Throw in other NBA stars like Reggie Miller, Kevin Garnette, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen, baseball superstar Jerek Jeter, and boxing greats Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield.

Pacquiao is in his last four weeks of training for the fight, and normally they don’t let anyone else in when he spars.

Not when you’re Bob Dylan.