Bureau of Customs to employ Internet-based assessment system

MANILA, Philippines - The Bureau of Customs (BOC) is preparing to implement its Internet-based Imports and Assessment System (IAS)) in the Ports of Manila, Limay in Bataan and the Manila International Container Port (MICP) following the launch of the system at the Batangas International Port, Customs Commissioner Napoleon Morales has announced.

He said the agency started implementing the system at the Batangas Port last March 21, 2009.

IAS is the agency’s new system for its imports and exports processing requirements.

“We are piloting the system here in Batangas, where high costs but low volumes of import trade are traditionally documented, before we implement them nationwide,” Morales said.

He said that through the system, the agency wants to make transactions easier for clients.

Morales signed Customs Memorandum Order No. 10-2009 detailing the procedures for transactions under the electronic-to-mobile (e2m) Customs system effective March 21.

All import shipments at the Batangas port will now have to be processed using e2m procedures that include cashless payments.

Morales said that to be able to transact in using the new system, importers and brokers must have valid and active Client Customs Number (CCN), bank account information and bank reference numbers of their Authorized Agent Banks (AABs) for electronic payment of customs duties and taxes, appropriate licenses, clearance and permits from concerned issuing agencies for their importation, and applicable non-cash payment instruments.

IAS is a major end-to-end process automated through the multimillion-peso e2m Customs Project. It has been designed to harmonize, rationalize, and streamline imports and exports processing and improve trade facilitation between the BOC and its stakeholders, including other government agencies through the development and integration of various systems that will allow an extensive use of e-Commerce solutions towards a non face-to-face transaction procedures.

The BOC, the government’s second revenue agency, is under heavy pressure to improve collections and meet its target of P277.2 billion this year.