Section 7April 27, 2001, Sec./Art. 7

Section 2606 of Part 5, Title VI of the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines, as amended, is hereby further amended to read as follows:

"Section 2606. Disposition of Surplus from the Proceeds of Sale of Abandoned or Forfeited or Acquired Articles. - Except in the case of the sale of abandoned or forfeited articles, and articles which are not claimed by payment of duties, taxes and other charges and compliance with all legal requirements within the prescribed period, any surplus remaining after the satisfaction of all unlawful charges as aforesaid shall be retained by the Collector for ten (10) days subject to the call of the owner.

Upon failure of the owner to claim such surplus within this period, the Collector shall deposit such amount in a special trust fund which shall be used solely for the purpose of financing the compulsory acquisition of imported goods by the government as provided in Section 2317 hereof.

In all such cases the Collector shall report fully his action in the matter, together with all the particulars, to the Commissioner and to the Chairman on Audit. After one year, the unused amounts in such special trust funds, except for an amount necessary to finance forced government acquisitions before the first auction of the succeeding year, shall be turned over to the Bureau of Treasury as customs receipts."