Biazon: Customs NCR office to stay open on Labor Day

The Bureau of Customs' (BoC) office in the National Capital Region (NRC) will remain open on Labor Day, May 1, Customs Commissioner Rozzano Rufino Biazon said.   On the Commissioner's Twitter account, Biazon said "BoC in (Metro Manila) will have work on May 1, to process imports and exports. This is to compensate for the all-day truck ban on May 2-3." Biazon explained the the Customs needs to remain open to compensate for the truck ban on May 2 and 3 because of the 45th Asian Development Bank (ADB) Board of Governors Annual Meeting at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC). Some 4,000 local and foreign delegates, finance ministers, central bank governors, representatives from international organizations and private sector are expected to participate in the ADB meeting.   The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) earlier said a daylong truck ban, from 4:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., will be implemented for the ADB meeting.   Those exempted are trucks that haul perishable goods such as fruits, vegetables, seafood, and ice, "provided they will not pass through the routes to be used by ADB delegates."   Once the ADB meeting is over, the regular truck ban hours will resume starting May 6: from 6:00 to 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. except Sundays and holidays. MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino earlier said the MMDA would coordinate with the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) and the banking sector to let the truckers maximize operations and e-banking transactions for the days leading up to May 2 to 5.   "The country stands to gain a lot in economic terms if the hosting of this event proves to be a success, that's why we are doing our best to make the delegates' stay in the country comfortable and fruitful," Tolentino said. - VVP, GMA News