Truckers servicing container terminals in the Philippines may soon have to secure accreditation from the Bureau of Customs (BOC).
“I will be issuing a CMO (customs memorandum order) or CAO (customs administrative order) that all truckers that would enter the port will have to register with the Bureau of Customs,” Customs Commissioner Alberto Lina announced during the April 12 induction of Mario Yap as the new president of the Confederation of Truckers Association of the Philippines (CTAP).
Lina noted that when BOC conducts audits, it usually can’t keep track of who delivered cargoes to their destinations. In an interview with PortCalls after the induction, the customs chief said the accreditation is also “for their (truckers) protection” and for “traceability and safety, national interest.”
However, the commissioner’s plan may mean truckers, just like importers and customs brokers, will also have to be accredited first by BOC’s sister agency, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR). But Lina said this should not pose a problem as requirements will be minimal.
He noted other entities, such as terminal operators, are already being accredited by the customs agency. Moreover, he said that under the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA), third parties that transact with BOC may be supervised and regulated. Under Section 1226 of the Bicameral Conference Committee-approved measure, third parties transacting with the bureau in behalf of importers and consignees will be treated like true importers or consignees.
Third parties, moreover, will be liable for committing acts that violate CMTA and related laws.
Under the CMTA, third parties refer to logistics providers, importers, exporters, carriers, airlines, shipping lines, shipping agents, forwarders, consolidators, port and terminal operators, and warehouse operators or entities that have transactions with the bureau.
Asked to comment on the BOC accreditation plan, CTAP’s Yap said they first have to see the provisions of the memorandum.
Lina said the order will be issued once finalized by the legal team. – Roumina Pablo
Image courtesy of khunaspix at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
