MICP X-ray seizes Motorcycles

          The MICP X-ray Field Office has recently detected two units of motorcycles of various brand and make hidden inside several balikbayan boxes as part of its intensified X-ray scanning operation on Informal Entry Shipments in connection with the recent developments which were publicized in the national newspapers that high-end motorcycles were smuggled into the country especially at the southern ports using allegedly balikbayan boxes.

           

            Based on the report submitted by MICP Field Officer and concurrent Luzon Area Supervisor Renato D. Palgan to XIP Head Atty. Ma. Lourdes V. Mangaoang, CEO VI, the smuggled used motorcycles were part and parcel of forty-footer shipment with Container Van. No. MSKU 1192217, declared as personal effects and household goods, consigned to Francisco Adriano et. al. / Ocean Star Freight Express, which arrived at MICP on June 2, 2011 from Hawaii. After the filing of import entry, the said shipment was subjected to X-ray inspection on June 9, 2011 by X-ray Inspector Felicito A. Acero in compliance with the memorandum of the Commissioner of Customs last May 30, 2011. However, during the image analysis of the shipment it showed that some suspicious undeclared items were maliciously hidden inside the inner portion of the container van that led to further verification of the shipment using the manual type of examination to ascertain the findings of X-ray printout copy. And it was discovered during the spot-checking conducted by the assigned customs examiners of the Informal Entry Division in the presence of the representatives from the customs brokerage firm and the XIP that the suspected items included one unit of fully assembled motorcycle and one unit disassembled (chop-chop) motorcycle placed inside several packages of balikbayan boxes, thus, the entire shipment was subjected to a hold order for a 100 percent physical examination.

            According to Renato D. Palgan, the latest apprehension of motorcycles inside a consolidation shipment shows the effectiveness and efficiency of non-intrusive inspection of container cargo using the X-ray scanner, unlike opening the container van and removing and inspecting all the almost 300 balikbayan boxes one by one and then returning them back to the container van which is both unrealistic and time-consuming considering that there are several hundreds consolidation shipments arriving daily from abroad.

MICP X-ray Facility to open soon

          With modern and fully furnished Satellite Office as well as an accessible spot-checking ramp exclusively for X-rayed shipments with suspicious items, located just beside its office, the new spacious MICP Container X-ray Facility which can accommodate six container X-ray machines that can be operational all at the same time will soon open anytime this month.

            The new X-ray facility, which is located inside the ICTSI Compound near the West Gate, covers approximately 8,000 square meters in total land area with parking space for container trucks that are subject for X-ray inspection.

            According to MICP Field Officer and Concurrent Luzon Area Supervisor, the new X-ray facility has been a result of the combine initiative and efforts of the leadership of the X-ray Inspection Project Head, Atty. Ma. Lourdes V. Mangaoang, CEO VI, and the MICP District Collector Engr. Ricardo R. Belmonte, CESO V, as well as through the painstaking negotiations made by the previous administration of MICP Field Officer Pedro Irineo D. Gutierrez and his men with the ICTSI Management.

“With the completion of many infrastructures needed for a decent container X-ray facility to operate which is comparable with any world-class container X-ray facility like the POM Field Office and after the approval for transfer from the Department of Health which is the regulatory agency of linear accelerator sources of radiation, then we can move to a much better facility anytime soon”, Palgan said.

The integrated X-ray facility that houses the container X-ray machines, a Satellite Office and a spot-checking ramp for truck-mounted examination of shipments with suspicious items, all conforms with the international best standards and practices in non-intrusive examination of cargoes. The MICP X-ray Field Office operates six days a week from Monday to Saturday and with business hours from 8:00 in the morning until 2:00 in the morning the following day. At present, it X-rayed an average of 200-250 container vans daily and it is expected to scan a bigger volume of containerized shipments with the opening of new container X-ray facility this month. And all its container X-ray machines are duly licensed with the Department of Health, which shows that they are all tested and safe for the use in cargo examination.

                                                                  

The New MICP Container X-ray Facility that can accommodate six container x-ray machines that can be operational all at the same time is now ready for full blast operation.     

The round the clock ongoing construction of Satellite Office, which is fully equipped with office furnishings and latest equipment is said to be the most modern x-ray satellite office not only in the country but also in the Asia Pacific Region.

The spot-checking ramp exclusive for x-rayed shipments located just beside the Satellite Office is accessible to the Customs examiners and brokers and can serve three containerized shipments for physical examination all at the same time.

BOCXOA awards winners of 3rd Chess Tourney

                    The 3^rd BOCXOA Chess Tournament has pushed its final checkmate move last June 7, 2011 in a simple yet memorable ceremony attended by the officers and members of the sponsoring organizations at the POM Field Office Lounge, with trophies and cash prizes were given to the top five winners, namely: Lorenzo Rupeta (champion), Raymond Linsangan (1^st runner-up), Loren Tabilog (2^nd runner-up), Joaquin Cagadas (3^rd runner-up) and Dante Frago (4^th runner-up).

            The tournament, which was jointly sponsored by the Bureau of Customs X-ray Operators Association, Inc., the Customs Gray Knights Brotherhood, Inc. and the BOC Chess Club, Inc., was held at the Social Room of the MICP Collection District during  the whole month of May using a Swiss type of competition participated in by more than thirty chess enthusiasts and players representating, Customs officials and employees, Customs brokers, and other port stakeholders.

           

            Meanwhile, the 1^st POM Field Office Tournament also concluded last May 11, 2011 with the following winners: Ernesto Loteyro (Champion, Dart), Randy Teniente (Champion, Table Tennis), Dante Padilla (Champion, Chess), and Mariecon Nolasco (Champion, Sing-along). The tournament in various fields of events was made to strengthen the camaraderie and to develop a healthy mind and body among the officers and personnel in the X-ray Inspection Project.

 The 1^st XIP POM Office Tournament Winners. The winners of the 1^st XIP-POM Office Tournament pose for a picture of posterity. Shown on the picture are MICP Field Officer and concurrent Luzon Area Supervisor Renato Palgan, Dante Padilla (Chess, Champion), Ernesto Loteyro (Dart Champion), Randy Teniente (Table Tennis Champion), Mariecon Nolasco (Sing-along Champion) and Asst. Chief-of-Staff Atty. Danilo Campos, Jr.

The 3^rd BOCXOA Chess Tourney Winners with the BOCXOA Prexy and the guest speaker of the ceremony. Standing left to right: BOCXOA President and BOXCOA Multi-Purpose Cooperative Chairman Renato Palgan, 1^st Runner-up Raymond Linsangan, Champion Lorenzo Rupeta, 4^th Runner-up Joaquin Cagadas, 5^th Runner-up Dante Frago, 2^nd Runner-up Loren Tabilog and Asst. Chief-of-Staff Atty. Danilo Campos, Jr.

Radiation Safety Experts inspect POM X-ray Facility

The danger of having nuclear radioactive materials contaminated shipments entering the country as a result of a nuclear facility disaster in Fukushima, Japan has underscored the importance of high-tech detection equipment of the Bureau of Customs like the container x-ray machines, which has a built-in radioactive monitoring system, to calm down the concerns of the local consumers.

            This develop as group of radiation safety experts coming from the Department of Health and the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute, headed by Ma. Gladys R. Cabrera of the Bureau of Health and Devices Technology and Estrella Caseria of the Radiation Protection Service, respectively, has inspected just recently last April 15, 2011 the radiation monitoring system of the customs container x-ray machines of their capabilities to detect nuclear radioactive materials inside containerized shipments.

            According to POM Field Officer and concurrent BOC Radiation Safety Officer Renato Palgan, the regular inspection was made after Atty. Ma. Lourdes Mangaoang, the Head of X-ray Inspection Project, wrote a letter to the Director of the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute to assess the standards of the radiation monitoring devices of the BOC to ensure that radioactive-contaminated shipments are apprehended at the port of entries before they are release by Customs officers.

              Palgan added, “although initial findings showed that the machines can indeed detect the radioactive sample sources brought by the radiation safety experts, we still have to wait for their formal scientific report that would be submitted to us soon by them and it was observed during the test that the system alarms every time a radioactive substance passes through the detector.”

He further added that as a safety measures for its personnel, the X-ray Inspection Project has been provided by the PNRI with a radiation film badge and Thermo-luminescent Device (TLD) to gauge their respective radiation dose.

Aside from radioactive substance, the x-ray machines have also detected drugs, explosives and other dangerous chemicals in the past and instrumental in the collection for payment of additional duties and taxes of highly dutiable shipments after x-ray scanning inspection.

Radiation Safety Experts from the Department of Health and the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute inspect the customs container x-ray machines at the Port of Manila on April 15,2011 to check their capabilities to detect radioactive materials inside containerized shipments especially those coming from Fukushima, Japan, which experienced lately a worst nuclear waste disaster, from entering into the country. Shown from left to right are POM Field Officer and Customs Radiation Safety Officer Renato D. Palgan, Ma. Teresa A. Salabit of PNRI, Vincent Dalin of DOH, Radiation Protection Service Head Estrella Caseria of PNRI, Bureau of Health and Devices Technology Head Ma. Gladys R. Cabrera of DOH, Eileen Hernandez of PNRI, Ronald Piquero of PNRI, Kristine Marie Romallosa of PNRI, Julie Cruz of DOH, X-ray Inspector Romel Enriquez and X-ray Inspector Sevilliano Pelayo, both from Bureau of Customs.

BOCXOA to hold 3rd BOC Chess Tourney

As part of its continuing tradition to promote camaraderie and goodwill among customs officials, employees, brokers and other port stakeholders, the Bureau of Customs X-ray Operators Association, Inc. (BOCXOA), in cooperation with the Customs Grayknights Brotherhood, Inc. and the Bureau of Customs Chess Club, Inc., will sponsor a chess tournament from April 25 to May 20, 2011 which will be held at the MICP Law Division Office. The tournament will be its third since the organization started holding the annual affair in 2009.

BOCXOA President and BOCXOA Multi-Purpose Cooperative Chairman Renato Palgan said that the chess tournament is a regular sport fest of the association as part of its program in promoting the well-being among the customs personnel especially the ranks of customs x-ray operators.

“We choose the chess tournament from among other sports events simply because playing chess is like developing the image analysis skills of our x-ray inspectors wherein you must have a good grasp of mental images of shipments for you to detect any misdeclaration and anomaly inside the shipment, just like having a keen analysis of your opponent’s next moves to win a chess game. And in both cases, all your brain faculties must be functioning extremely well to become a winner in a chess game and a top caliber, world-class x-ray inspector on image analysis,” Palgan said on the holding of annual chess tournament.

He likewise invited all chess enthusiasts in the customs community to participate by registering at the POM X-ray Field Office or the MICP Law Division.

The BOCXOA is an association of technically-trained customs officials and personnel on how to properly operate the x-ray machines and they are duly recognized by the Department of Health, which is the regulatory agency in the use of linear accelerator source of radiation, while the Customs Grayknights Brotherhood, Inc. is a social organization of former cadets and graduates of the Philippine Military Academy who are working with the Bureau of Customs.

Officers of the sponsoring organizations of the upcoming 3^rd BOCXOA Chess Tournament which will start on April 25, 2011 pose for a picture of posterity at the office of POM Field Officer Renato D. Palgan. Left to right: Bambi Purisima, publisher of the Manila Sun Newspaper; Julius Mates (PMA Class ’95), Secretary-General of the Customs Grayknights Brotherhood, Inc.; Renato Palgan (PMA Class ’88), President of the Bureau of Customs X-ray Operators Association, Inc. (BOCXOA) and the Customs Grayknights Brotherhood, Inc.; and Atty. Manuel Relorcasa, Chief of the MICP Law Division and the Chairman of the Customs Chess Club, Inc. The BOCXOA Chess Tournament, which is an annual sport event in the Bureau of Customs, participated in by chess enthusiasts among customs officers and personnel and other port stakeholders, is also supported by the Customs Chess Club and the Customs Grayknights Brotherhood, an organization of former cadets and alumni of the Philippine Military Academy who are working with the Bureau of Customs. 

Japan Budget Officials visit POM X-ray Facility

         To learn about the best practices in the conduct of non-intrusive container inspection of shipments in the Bureau of Customs, officials of the Japan Ministry of Finance and the Japan International Cooperation Agency, headed by Mr. Sumiya Shibasaki, have recently visited and made an ocular observation on the actual x-ray scanning operation at the Port of Manila X-ray Facility on March 3, 2011. They were assisted by POM X-ray Field Officer Renato Palgan.

            Before proceeding to the POM X-ray Facility, the visiting Japanese officials made a courtesy call on Field Officer Renato Palgan and expressed the desire of their agencies to provide technical assistance to the Customs X-ray Inspection Project to effectively and efficiently accomplish its mandate especially on detecting shipments containing contraband and anti-social goods.

            As a gesture of gratitude to their offered services and goodwill, Field Officer Renato Palgan thanked the visiting officials and expressed his reciprocal support to whatever programs and working cooperation they will offer to the Bureau of Customs for the efficient and effective use of container x-ray scanners and handed to them several copies of Customs x-ray manuals as token of gratitude for their support.

Japan Budget and JICA Officials, headed by Sumiya Shibasaki (second from right) and Takashi Uchino (first from left) make a courtesy call on Port of Manila Field Officer Renato Palgan (third from right) at the latter’s office on March 3 before proceeding to the Port of Manila X-ray Facility to observe the best scanning practices of shipments in the Philippines.

DOH approves new POM X-ray Facility

The X-ray Inspection Project has recently boosted its capabilities at the Port of Manila after the Department of Health has approved the former’s new x-ray facility intended primarily for export shipments located within the DEA- Examination Area, following an ocular inspection and radiation test conducted by DOH personnel Vincent Dalin and Victor Margallo, together with BOC Radiation Safety Officer Renato Palgan, last February 23, 2011. And it was scientifically established through radiation tests conducted on the site that the radiation emitted by the x-ray scanner is within the standards required for the public to be exposed to radiation. Aside from the radiation test, it is also a mandatory requirement that all x-ray operators manning the x-ray machines have undergone the required trainings in scanning operation and radiation safety before a license to operate can be issued to the bureau.

According to BOC Radiation Safety Officer and concurrent POM X-ray Field Officer Renato Palgan, the Port of Manila has now five units of container x-ray machines that are operational all at the same time and can accommodate at least 250 containerized shipments daily in accordance with the new memorandum issued by the Commissioner of Customs last February 8.

“The opening of new x-ray facility at the Port of Manila is in compliance with the Customs Radiation Safety Manual and in accordance with the safety requirements and standards set by the Department of Health, which is the regulatory government agency in the use of x-ray machine. And this deployment of new container x-ray scanner is a clear manifestation that the XIP is continuously reassessing its radiation safety requirements to be able to meet its commitments to radiation regulatory agencies”, Palgan said.

POM New Container X-ray Facility. DOH Radiation Safety Expert Victor Margallo (in green shirt) together with BOC X-ray personnel, conducts radiation test around the new container x-ray facility. At the foreground is the mobile container x-ray machine.