One Day

I thought, today is going to be one of those busy monotonous days. Well, everything started quite all right. I was doing my job diligently. But then, at the later part of the day, it turned out that I did something wrong with my job and I have to fix it before "the lifting of the abandonment" expires.

Wait, I think I have to elaborate the situation. I know some may understand this term but to the common people like you, this may sound something new.

I work as a customs personnel (personero as they say). I do the lodgement of the entries everyday, from Mondays to Saturdays (isn't that monotonous?) in my favorite Value Added Service Provider (VASP), the CDEC. Their system is user-friendly that's why I preferred to use them.

Anyway, I lodged a Consumption Entry which arrived late in December. If you did not know, failure on the part of the consignee to file an entry within a non-extendible period of 30 days or if able to file an entry but were not able to claim it within a non-extendible period of 15 days results to abandonment of the shipment which is in favor of the government. It was actually the consignee's fault why we're not able to file the entry on time. Their Client Profile Registration System (CPRS) already expired and they failed to renew it promptly.

Just last week, March 1, there was a confirmation from the consignee that their registration was already renewed and we can now start filing their entry. Since, it took almost 2 months, obviously, their shipment was already declared abandoned and before we can start filing the entry, the abandonment should be lifted first.

I learned that in the Port of Cebu, once you lift an abandonment, it will cost you a lot (i mean it, literally!) And, once you lift it, it will only be effective within 24 hours, after that, you'll have to process another one.

So, after I received a go signal, I commence its lodgement. Unfortunately, I used the wrong office code. instead of using P07, I used P07B.

OMG! What to do? I'm so dumbed! I can't believed it. But since, it was MY fault, I have to fix this. (oh! Did I tell you, that it happened on Friday? And government offices aren't opened on Saturdays!) I felt the pressure was really on me and I did not expect this kind of scenario. Grrrrr... I am so unlucky!

First things first. I have to cancel that entry before the 24 hours reglamentary period expires. So, I called the VASP and they informed  me that I have to make a letter request and I have to have the approval of these four persons involved. The Examiner, Appraiser, Chief for Assessment and the Port Collector. Witweeew! Pathetic! Do I really need to have their signatures? Including the Collector? Yes! According to a woman named Balot. My goodness! The pressure is really running on me.

I did not have the hard time in seeking the signature of these first three people but the last one, well, it took me three hours(imagine!). He (yes! the Port Collector, himself!) asked me personally who did the lodgement, from whom did I get the form and some more questions he asked. (one of the scariest encounters I ever had! goosebumps!) And then, he asked me to call Balot and to see him asap. So, I went downstairs and told her that the Port Collector wanted to see her. Her reaction? Oh no! I can't. Why should I? (This is so absurd! Is this really happening?) It took her almost 5 minutes before she decided to see him. And when we were inside his office, a meeting had just begun. Paaaaak!

After 2 hours of a conference with his subordinates, he talked to Balot and he ordered me to pay P115 for the documentary stamps. And I have to give him a photocopy of those documents because I am the only one (i doubt it!) who processed a cancellation of entry. What about that entry I copied to?

Well, after the cancellation was done, I lodged it again and boom, everything went well. 

Enough of my brouhaha! I just promised to myself I'll be extra careful and if ONE DAY, I'll experienced this  scenario once again, I know what to do! twinks**