EditorialUkay-ukay enigma

Ukay-ukay enigma

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The Bureau of Customs keeping an eye out for any shipment of used clothing, commonly called “ukay-ukay” from abroad.

Last week, the BuCor confiscated more than 500 bales of ukay ukay which were “smuggled” from Dipolog on two trucks.

The commercial importation of used clothing is outlawed under Republic Act 4653, which is otherwise called “An Act to Safeguard the Health of the People and Maintain the Dignity of the Nation by Declaring it a National Policy to Prohibit the Commercial Importation of Textile Articles Commonly Known as Used Clothing and Rags.”

The puzzling thing about ukay-ukay is that there’s widespread proof that it exists in Dumaguete, in Negros Oriental and across the country despite this law. No less than the President’s eldest son, Paolo Duterte, was reportedly in this trade before his election to congress this year.

In a speech in 2017, President Rodrigo Duterte, who promised to resign if any of his children were involved in smuggling, said Paolo was just helping his in-laws in selling ukay-ukay.

It is worth noting that this law was passed in 1966 — long before ukay-ukay started gaining popularity as an alternative to stores selling quality designer clothes in the country.

The existence of ukay-ukay and the Bureau of Customs’ penchant of imposing this 53-year-old law does send conflicting signals, akin to someone laughing and crying at the same time.

Should the Bureau of Customs go slow in implementing this law? Will any local legislator champion the cause of the ukay-ukay vendors and the buying public?

Otherwise, perhaps our congressmen can take the cudgels by passing a law repealing RA 4653 while providing measures to ensure the health of the buying public.

No doubt, this will be a very popular move, which could (hopefully) earn votes in the coming elections.

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