Philippines to continue fuel marking scheme

The Philippine government will continue to implement the fuel-marking scheme implemented by the previous administration, in a bid to halt the rampant smuggling of oil imports. Customs Commissioner Angelito Alvarez said the fuel-marking scheme has been proven effective. The government is losing roughly Php20 billion (US$458.14 million) a year in unpaid taxes due to the smuggling of oil imports into the country. Last February, the government went full-blast with its fuel-marking project, which involves the use of a liquid chemical substance for marking imported diesel fuel and kerosene that enter the country duty-free. (October 11, 2010)