Ukay-ukay: Philippine senate mulls legalization of used clothes sale

The Philippine senate is mulling the legalization of the sale of used clothes, more popularly known as ukay-ukay, after Senator Raffy Tulfo pointed out it is against the law. Tulfo made the comments at a recent Senate session after reportedly receiving a complaint from an online seller and vlogger who claimed they were being targeted by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to pay taxes. “Isn’t ukay-ukay illegal? It is in our law. We shouldn’t be selling ukay-ukay because these are second hand (clothes) that are meant as donations for DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development),” Tulfo said in Filipino. The senator said BIR should, instead, target “big-time” smugglers of ukay-ukay into the country, adding that the illegal importation of used clothes is widespread in the country. “Perhaps we shouldn’t arrest small-time sellers. Perhaps we can just interrogate them on where they got the shipment. Who is the importer? Who is the consignee?” Tulfo said, suggesting that the Bureau of Customs (BOC) is not doing its job. In response, Customs Deputy Commissioner Edward James Buco denied any lapses from the bureau and agreed that the importation of used clothes for sale is illegal under Philippine law. Buco insisted that the bureau is working to curb the smuggling of ukay-ukay into the Philippines, and have confiscated several illegal shipments. Meanwhile, Senator Win Gatchalian urged the BOC to work with local government units to implement the law against the importation of ukay-ukay, adding that many Filipinos do not know it is illegal. This prompted Senator Tulfo to suggest making the commercial importation of used clothes legal. “Since the Bureau of Customs can’t control the influx of ukay-ukay, we have to come up with the system that, I don’t know, legalize ukay-ukay,” Tulfo said, pointing out that ukay-ukay sellers are currently not paying taxes. Gatchalian agreed to revisit the law on the matter. ICA/Expat Media
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