by LEO V. MORADA
THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) has taken a very bold step and will now implement e2m Customs Import Assessment System (IAS) in the Visayas and Mindanao starting today.
In a memorandum dated 12 April 2010 on the subject: “Effectivity Of CMO 27-2009”, BOC Commissioner Napoleon L. Morales formally issued official notice to the district collectors and port collector concerned on the implementation of e2m Customs IAS in the following customs ports/sub-port effective 19 April 2010:
- Port of Cebu
- Port of Cagayan de Oro
- Port of Iloilo
- Port of Davao
- Port of Tacloban
- Sub-Port of Mactan
CMO 27-2009 (Procedures for the Implementation of e2m Customs System – Phase 3: Import Assessment System (IAS) in all Customs Ports Nationwide) takes effect upon the issuance of a memorandum order by the Commissioner indicating the dates and the ports where the CMO shall be implemented.
Reactions in Cebu
BOC stakeholders in the port of Cebu were already put on notice as early as the latter part of February on the impending e2m implementation. The three customs-accredited value-added service providers (VASP) – Cargo Data Exchange Center, e-Konek Pilipinas and InterCommerce Network Services also conducted several orientation seminars and briefings for their respective clients in Cebu.
However, a number of Cebu stakeholders admitted they were taken by surprise by what they consider the implementation’s “short notice”. According to one shipping agent, “Our Manila office told us that the BOC memorandum is normally issued 10 to 15 days before actual date of implementation but here we are just given less than a week to undertake final preparations”.
A new Cebu-based forwarder also expressed concern it might not have its Client Profile Registration System (CPRS) ready since it just submitted early this month its accreditation papers with the Philippine Shippers Bureau. One importer also complained that when he went to his bank to inquire how to enroll his company’s bank account with Payment Application Secure System version 5 (PASS5), the branch staff were not fully aware of the e2m Customs requirement for bank reference number (BRN).
Surprise in Davao & CDO, lack of adequate info In Iloilo
Meanwhile, some stakeholders in Davao and Cagayan de Oro said the e2m implementation announcement totally caught them by surprise. According to one importer, “No one is able to clarify to me whether or not this new customs system will also encompass import shipments discharged at the Mindanao Container Terminal in Tagoloan (Misamis Oriental)”.
The local representative of a bulk vessel agent also reported he does not know anything about e2m Customs and is only too glad that their Manila office will be the one to submit electronic manifest for e2m Davao through the internet.
Meanwhile in Iloilo, a group of customs brokers and consignees already requested the Cebu office of one VASP to conduct an e2m orientation seminar onsite. According to them, “Our counterparts in Cebu are generally aware of this new customs system but here in Iloilo we lack adequate information and this is the reason why we asked a customs-accredited VASP to visit us here and conduct an orientation seminar”.
Leo V. Morada is a domain expert on IT applications in Philippine port operations with 25years senior IT management experience implementing technology solutions in port operations, electronic transactions with customs & port authority, and port community system applications. He is currently CEO of Cargo Data Exchange Center, Incorporated which is a customs-accredited Value Added Service Provider. He can be contacted at lmorada3f1@yahoo.com.
