A total of 9,418 importers and customs brokers, or 62.8% of the 14,995 registered with the Philippine Bureau of Customs (BOC), beat the July 31 accreditation deadline and received a provisional accreditation from the customs agency.
According to an advertisement by the Department of Finance (DOF), the BOC, and the DOF-run website Pera ng Bayan, 5,577 importers and brokers did not make it on time despite the simpler application process and the 60-day extension of the accreditation deadline.
During the first deadline of May 21, only 11, or 0.1% of the total, heeded the call to apply.
When the deadline was extended to June 30, only 3,366 more importers and brokers applied.
For the final extension of July 31, about 5,782 additional applications were received by the BOC-Accounts Management Office (AMO).
In the ad, the DOF and BOC asked importers and brokers who did not apply for accreditation in time, “Why complain?” pointing out that the deadline had been extended twice.
Those who did not make it to the July 31 deadline may still apply as new applicants although no provisional accreditation will be automatically granted.
In a memorandum dated July 31, Customs Commissioner John Sevilla directed AMO chief Atty. Jemina Sy-Flores to cancel the accreditation of noncompliant importers and brokers, delist them from the BOC’s Client Profile Registration System, and prohibit them from processing their shipments “after the prescribed deadline.”
The BOC accreditation is the second step in a new two-step accreditation process for importers and customs brokers instigated by the DOF designed to curb smuggling and level the playing field for legitimate traders.
The first step requires them to secure either an importer clearance certificate or broker clearance certificate from the Bureau of Internal Revenue. – Roumina Pablo
Image courtesy of Naypong at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
