Corporate importers hail BOC's Super Green Lane Plus facility

MANILA, Philippines - Big corporate importers with impeccable records of transactions with the Bureau of Customs (BOC) are all praises for the new trade facilitation facility launched recently by the BOC.

The Super Green Lane Plus (SGL) facility which grants qualified importers a 24-hour Client Coordination Service, exemption from selectivity screens, five-year accreditation and a three-year exemption from post-entry audit, has been cited by early adopters for its potential to promote transparency and efficiency in the importation clearance process.

Avon Products, Epson Philippines, Globe Telecom, McDonald’s, Jollibee, Kraft Foods, Tanduay Distillers, Texas Instruments and Unilever Philippines have expressed satisfaction over the recent approval by Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima of the Customs Administrative Order that authorized the BOC to fully implement the SGL facility. 

Acting proactively, 33 companies have banded together to form the SGL Association, Inc. whose main objective is to expand the base of corporate importers that exemplify best practices in compliance with trading and customs policies.

Jeff de Leon of Globe was elected chairman, Bobot Reyes of Texas Instruments was voted president while Tyrone Uy of Jollibee and Wilson Young of Tanduay were chosen vice-president and treasurer, respectively. 

Customs Commissioner Angelito Alvarez said the SGL Association, which was registered with the SEC on March 31 and has nine member-corporations, had been accredited by the BOC as a “for-members-only” self-regulating organization with the power to determine whether an applicant qualifies for membership or not.

Alvarez explained that only bona fide member-corporations of the SGL Association could avail themselves of privileges granted under the SGL facility.

While the association is still finalizing its requirements for membership, De Leon said the group would only consider applicants which are importers of good repute based on its track record with the BOC.

He added: “Only companies that have not misused the customs facilities nor intentionally misdeclared their importations in terms of quantity, quality, type and value will be viable candidates for membership.”