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The Bureau of Customs will implement the Electronic Tracking of Containerized Cargoes (E-TRACC) System in economic zones and freeports that remain uncovered by the system
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The implementation now includes shipments from Port of Manila and Manila International Container Port to Philippine Economic Zone Authority ecozones and freeports not included in previous implementations
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Customs officers will not approve any customs clearance without E-TRACC booking
The Bureau of Customs’ (BOC) Electronic Tracking of Containerized Cargoes (E-TRACC) System now covers all economic zone and Freeport shipments from Manila ports.
In Assessment and Operations Coordinating Group (AOCG) Memo No. 293-2021 dated June 17 and which took immediate effect, AOCG deputy commissioner Atty. Edward James Dy Buco said the system is now implemented for shipments from the Port of Manila and Manila International Container Port (MICP) going to Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) ecozones and Freeports that have not yet been included in previous implementations.
PEZA ecozones to be covered include Victoria Wave Special Economic Zone, Asahi Special Economic Zone, FTI Special Economic Zone, Gateway Business Park, John Hay Special Economic Zone, Daiichi Industrial Park, and all other PEZA ecozones not included in previous implementation memos.
For freeports, included are Clark Freeport Zone, Poro Point Freeport Zone, Subic Bay Freeport Zone, Freeport Area of Bataan, and all other Freeport zones excluded from previous implementation memos.
According to AOCG Memo 293-2021, customs operations officers will not approve any customs clearance without E-TRACC booking as prescribed in Customs Memorandum Order (CMO) No. 04-2020, which implements the system.
READ: BOC orders e-tracking of cargoes in transit
E-TRACC is a web-based system launched by BOC last year to track inland movement of containerized cargoes during transit and transfer to other customs territories and facilities. It allows BOC to track, monitor, and audit the location and condition of cargoes, as well as obtain real-time alarms on diversion and tampering of cargoes.
Several memos have been issued since last year on the gradual inclusion in the system of various ecozones and collection districts.
Under CMO 04-2020, an electronic customs seal (ECS) is required during the transfer of cargo to a container yard/container freight station or other customs facilities and warehouses; transit of cargo bound for Free Zones, inland customs office, depots, or terminals; transit to customs bonded warehouse (CBWs); export of cargo from Free Zones, inland customs office, depots or terminals, and CBWs to port of loading; and transfer of shipments subject to further verification and/or monitoring.
BOC said the trackers, or the ECS, are designed to emit an alert on any tampering to allow BOC’s Enforcement and Security Service Quick Reaction Team to act swiftly to prevent any smuggling activities.
All container vans covered by CMO 04-2020 should be affixed with an ECS before being cleared to depart from the starting point or point of discharge for the voyage to the end point or point of destination.
Except when warranted under CMO 04-2020, customs cargo clearance must be fully completed before any shipment can be sealed with an ECS.
Booking for an E-TRACC trip can be made one day earlier or up to one hour before departure of the container.
E-TRACC requires payment of P500 within a 10-kilometer (km) radius from port of discharge and P700 beyond the 10-km radius from port of discharge. The charge covers both arming and disarming of the ECS. – Roumina Pablo
