The Bureau of Customs (BOC) expects to generate over P22 million from the 21,640 sacks of rice it will auction at the Port of Zamboanga next week.
The public auction through sealed bidding will be conducted on April 15 at 2:30 p.m. at the BOC office, Port Area, Zamboanga.
The BOC said it expects to generate a minimum revenue of P22.13 million from the auction of the 576,000 kilograms of rice.
The rice, consisting of 7,763 sacks of white rice, 3,072 sacks of well-milled premium grade rice, and 10,805 sacks of glutinous rice, are divided into four lots.
According to the bureau, the various shipments of rice were seized last year as the BOC intensified its antismuggling campaign in the south with the help of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police.
BOC Port of Zamboanga district collector Jerry Loresco said the auction will enable the bureau to dispose of the seized smuggled rice through public auction to preserve the value of rice and to prevent damage or spoilage.