The automotive industry has asked the Bureau of Customs (BoC) to allow them the use of the “greenlane” privilege to facilitate the entry of their emergency imports of auto spare parts and components to cope with the huge demand for repairs of vehicles affected by flood waters.

Elizabeth H. Lee, president of the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. (CAMPI), sent the letter Friday to BoC Commissioner Napoleon Morales and copy furnished to the Board of Investments.

The BoI has swwupported the CAMPI request for the greenlane privilege in the BoC for their emergency importation of auto parts that are not locally available, but Trade and Industry Undersecretary and BoI managing head Elmer C. Hernandez said they would like to determine the volume of importation that the industry would require as well as the timetable for such importation.

“We support this CAMPI undertaking but we need to determine the volume and the timetable of their undertaking to prevent any abuse of this privilege,” Hernandez said.

Lee, however, only said the volume of importation has to be determined based on the prevailing situation and the greenlane privilege would be availed for the duration of the state of calamity.

Lee said that the industry faces shortage in the current inventory of replacement parts and members are constrained to import the needed parts to cope up with the big demand.

“Such measures would not only assist in lessening the backlog but would help shorten the waiting time for these parts and most importantly, lighten significantly the already heavy burden being experienced by vehicle owners who have to deal with all the costs of the damage or loss pertaining to their vehicles, their houses and other properties,” Lee said.

CAMPI has already an initial list of auto parts that they need to import such as ECU or computer box, meter cluster, instrument gauges, alternator, starter, wiper motor, Hernandez said that they agreed to the CAMPI request because this would facilitate the release of imports and that whatever savings they would incur should be passed on to consumers.