Air sector urged to try out e-manifest to spot glitches before policy takes effect

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ID-100113296The Bureau of Customs (BOC) is encouraging stakeholders to practice submission of the electronic air manifest through their value-added service providers (VASP) to identify potential problems before the system is formally implemented.

Nomie Gonzales, BOC-Management Information System and Technology Group (MISTG) chief of technical support, told participants at a recent forum organized by the Aircargo Forwarders of the Philippines, Inc. (AFPI) to bring up all their concerns before a customs memorandum order is signed.

A number of public hearings have been conducted to further polish the draft on the electronic air manifest project, with the latest version issued on September 1.

Under the draft rules, the mandatory submission of the electronic air manifest through a VASP is planned for incorporation into BOC’s electronic-to-mobile (e2m) system by November.

AFPI is asking for the policy’s application to be moved to January 2015 due to the expected influx of cargo during the peak season.

“The implementation date is not yet final since the CMO is still for revision,” Gonzales later told PortCalls in an email.

During the forum, AFPI president Maria Antoinette Reyes said the organization is pushing for a flat rate of P10,000 as penalty for late submissions, instead of the proposed escalating fee per violation of P10,000 for the first offense, P20,000 for the second offense, and P30,000 for the third and subsequent offenses and for non-compliance.

Airfreight forwarders are also asking BOC to allow late entries that did not make it to the 5 p.m. deadline to be lodged the next day.

Gonzales, who made a presentation during the forum, took note of all the suggestions and said MISTG will issue another revised draft based on inputs from stakeholders. – Roumina Pablo

Image courtesy of ddpavumba at FreeDigitalPhotos.net