No used clothes for Sendong victims, OFWs urged

MANILA, Phililppines – Filipinos overseas are urged not to send home used clothes for victims of Tropical Storm Sendong as these are considered “prohibited and banned” imported items.

The Philippine embassy in the United Arab Emirates published a guideline on its website for Filipinos sending relief goods or items for the victims of Sendong (international codename Washi).
 
It cited Administrative Order No. 06, which includes a restriction of donations of “used clothing” to safeguard the health of the people.  

Republic Act 4653 also includes “used clothing and rags” under its “Absolutely Prohibited” list.

R.A. 4653, enacted in June 1966,  is an act “to safeguard the health of the people and maintain the dignity of the nation” by making it a national policy to prohibit the “commercial importation” of used clothing and rags.
 
Violators are fined P200 to P20,000 and face imprisonment of two to five years.

The other items in the “Absolutely Prohibited” list include toy guns, right-hand drive vehicles, and laundry and industrial detergents containing hard surfactants.

Sendong has killed almost a thousand residents of northern Mindanao and Visayas areas when it hit the country in the dead of the night on Saturday, Dec. 17. Hundreds more are missing after a month’s worth of rain poured into the areas. Most of the casualties are in the port cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan as these are located in the mouth of river systems.   

President Aquino has declared a state of national calamity to expedite the access and release of funds to provide aid and hasten the recovery of affected areas

Traditionally, overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) send more money and goods home after typhoons and other disasters.

The Philippine embassy thanked Filipinos who have already and are continuing to contribute to the relief efforts. – Rappler.com