Local wood industry hurting from rampant plywood smuggling

Local plywood manufacturers have expressed alarm over the supposed rampant plywood smuggling in the country, which it said has already caused the loss of 10,000 to 15,000 jobs in the industry. "The technical smuggling of plywood has harmful effects on our local wood industry and our economy," said Antonio Olizon, president of the Philippine Wood Producers Association (PWPA), in a letter to Customs chief Ruffy Biazon.   Olizon and his group were appealing to Biazon to curb plywood smuggling through strict monitoring of imported plywood.   Biazon immediately heeded PWPA’s request. “We will not allow these sub-standard plywood to get through customs gates as it could pose grave danger to the country's economy in general and construction industry, in particular," he said Tuesday.   Biazon said he has tasked the Bureau of Customs' Intelligence Group under Deputy Commissioner Danilo Lim to monitor plywood importations.   Olizon said smuggled plywood are usually cheaper than the locally produced ones, creating a significant price distortion in the local market.   He also said plywood smuggling does not only hurt the local industry, it shortchanges consumers as well because illegally imported plywood do not meet the mandatory standards set by the Bureau of Product Standards.   The PWPA said most of the smuggled plywood came from Tsing Tao, Qing Dao and Shandong China. — KBK, GMA News