3 oil firms start complying with fuel marking program: Customs

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MANILA — The Bureau of Customs (BOC) on Monday reported that several companies have complied with the government’s fuel marking program.

Customs Deputy Commissioner for Enforcement Teddy Raval, who heads the implementing office of the program, encouraged other oil firms that have yet to have their fuel marked to work with concerned agencies and avoid unwanted prosecution.

According to the BOC, three oil firms have so far had their fuel marked in several terminal facilities in the country.

This after another batch of Mogas Base Fuel with an estimated volume of 11.6 million liters onboard MT Sichem Mumbai was marked at the import terminal facility of Unioil in Bataan on Sunday.

Last week, the marking activities on petroleum products of Insular Oil Corporation was conducted in Subic.

Earlier, Seaoil Philippines, Inc. and Unioil Petroleum Philippines, Inc. in Batangas and Bataan, conducted marking activities on their petroleum products in compliance with the nationwide implementation of the fuel marking program.

To date, a total of 94.9 million liters of fuel have already been marked at Unioil since its initial marking on October 22. This is equivalent to collected duties and taxes amounting to PHP719 million.

The nationwide testing of fuel in the retail side will be enforced by the BOC, Bureau of Internal Revenue, Department of Finance and Switzerland-based SICPA SA and SGS Philippines starting February 3, 2020.

On the other hand, Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero is closely working with oil companies in the country to fast-track the marking of petroleum products before the deadline.

The BOC is expecting that all other players to follow soon before the end of the washout period in January 2020.

Gasoline, diesel and kerosene found to be unmarked will be seized, and penalties will be imposed against those storing, transporting, importing or peddling unmarked fuel.

The government is implementing the fuel marking program to minimize smuggling and misdeclaration and increase the collections of the BOC and the Bureau of Internal Revenue, the country’s two biggest revenue agencies.

On February 3, 2020, testing of fuel in the retail side, as well as enforcement actions, will commence.