BOC completes most of its ‘priority programs’ for 2021

THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) completed 89 percent of its target activities last year under the ‘10-Point Priority Program for CY 2021’ laid down by Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero despite challenges brought about by the still-lingering COVID-19 pandemic.

In a statement assessing the results, the BOC said 81 percent, or 130 out of its 161 processes are now automated bureau-wide.

“These Information Communication Technology (ICT) systems were fully implemented in 17 Collection Districts to provide streamlined and efficient customs services.

“It also includes the creation of the Customs Training Institute, the integration of the Ports of Manila, Cebu, Davao, and Manila International Container Port (MICP) to the Customs Operations Center (COC), and the issuance of the Customs Memorandum Order (CMO) on Cargo Targeting System,” the agency said.

Under ‘Program No. 2,’ activities of the Post-Clearance Audit and Post-Entry Modification measures under Assistant Commissioner Atty. Vincent Maronilla have also been intensified. Through the Post-Clearance Audit Group (PCAG), the BOC developed a Post-Clearance Audit Group Operations Manual (PCAG-OM); recommended 455 companies for audit and issued 342 Audit Notification Letters while also collecting an additional P610 million in revenue from PCAG’s final audit reports.

The BOC said that the ‘onboarding’ of ‘Trade Regulatory Government Agencies’ (TRGA) into the National Single Window (NSW) has also been made.

The BOC, in a separate statement, said the current thrust for this year  (2022) would be presented to the public by Guerrero on January 28, 2022, thru a virtual press conference.

The BOC, as the Chairman of the National Single Window (NSW) Technical Working Group (TWG), spearheaded the implementation of activities for the establishment, implementation, operation, and monitoring of the NSW and the ASEAN Single Window (ASW) in the country. “As a result of its consistent monitoring and efforts, a total of 22 TRGAs successfully onboarded into the NSW as of December 31, 2021,” the agency said.

Thru Customs Memorandum Order (CMO) 26-2021, the BOC has also implemented the ‘AEO Program’ (Authorized Economic Operator) Online Portal, which is Program No. 4 under Guerrero’s priority programs for 2021.

For faster ruling and transparency, the BOC has also successfully ‘migrated’ its ‘Advance Ruling System’ from manual to online with the lunching last September 22, 2021 of the Customer Care Portal.

The agency also announced that under its ‘Pursuit of Integrity Development and Quality Management Program,’ 7 offices, ports, and subports have been successfully awarded

with the ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System Certification.

In 2021, the BOC also consecutively bagged the Gold Governance Trailblazer awards as it passed the first three (3) stages of the Performance Governance System (PGS) under the Integrity for Solidary in Asia (ISA).

The BOC’s Enforcement Group also completed its Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Certification; conducted a regular Mandaragat Training and Small Boat Operations and Maintenance Course; and, completed Sea Trial Training for member of the Customs Police (Enforcement Security Service) and its newly-created maritime force under its Port Surveillance, Marine, Interdiction and Water Patrol Capability.

The BOC also launched its ‘automated bonds management system’ (ABMS) in all customs ports for general warehousing bonds, which is now guided by CMO 17-2021.

The program aims to monitor and collect all customs bonds that has fallen due and demandable.

The BOC has also issued the revised rules and regulations to further streamline the country’s export clearance process, especially on the opening and utilization of prepayment accounts.

The BOC said the regulation is to provide an alternative mode of payment of duties, taxes, and other charges for all goods declarations lodged through the E2M system.

For the last item, the BOC said it has also simplified the processing of goods at the Informal Entry Division (IED) thru CMO 9-2021 and Customs Administrative Order (CAO) 02-2021, the latter prescribing for a uniform and systematic procedure on the clearance of through an ICT-enabled system.

The BOC, in a separate statement, said the current thrust for this year would be presented to the public by Guerrero on January 28, 2022, thru a virtual press conference.