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The status of bond accounts and balances under the Automated Bonds Management System (ABMS) for transit cargoes can now be viewed online
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The ABMS Online Inquiry System can provide the guaranty amount and available balance as well as other information regarding transit shipment security bonds
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Stakeholders can access the online inquiry system on the bureau’s website by providing the importer’s tax identification number, port code, and policy number
Stakeholders can now monitor online the status of their bond accounts and balances under the Automated Bonds Management System (ABMS) for transit cargoes, according to the Bureau of Customs (BOC).
The GTSB (general transport security bond) ABMS Online Inquiry System was created by the BOC’s Management Information System and Technology Group (MISTG) to provide stakeholders a means to check online the guaranty amount and available balance. The system can also generate information on the transit shipment, such as the customs warehouse facility, single administrative document status, Online Release System status, release date, and destination.
The online inquiry system is available on the bureau’s website or through https://abmsgtsb.customs.gov.ph/. To access, stakeholders only need to provide the importer’s tax identification number, port code, and policy number.
In a memo dated March 25, MISTG deputy commissioner Allan Geronimo said the online inquiry system became available on March 27 and was created in line with the implementation of the ABMS for transit cargoes.
ABMS is a BOC-wide system that handles the processing of bond transactions, monitors and manages bond balances, and flags bonds that have matured. ABMS was established under Customs Memorandum Order (CMO) No. 14-2012, which provides the procedures for implementing the ABMS in all customs ports.
READ: BOC order sets guidance on automated bonds management system adoption
CMO 30-2020, meanwhile, provides the guidelines for implementing the ABMS for the processing of GTSB, which is a form of security to guarantee the payment of duties and taxes and other obligations to BOC. The CMO applies to all transit bond accounts opened under BOC’s Electronic-to-Mobile (E2M) System in all collection districts, including sub-ports and other BOC offices.
Since March 1 this year, all electronically lodged transit goods declarations are required to have an approved bond policy in the ABMS, but the system’s implementation was suspended from March 15 to April 4 in order to address some technical and administrative issues.
Under CMO 30-2020, only the approved bond policy can be used in the Terms of Payment (TOP) upon filing of the transit SAD (TSAD) in the E2M, and bond credit as payment instrument will be used. Upon registration of the TSAD, the ABMS will change the status of the bond policy to “Charged” if there is available fund balance.
All transit shipments transferred to Free Zones from the port of discharge must be tagged “Arrived” in the E2M Transit System by the authorized Customs officer in the following period:
- For single containers, within 24 hours from arrival of the shipment at the Free Zone
- For multiple containers, within 24 hours from arrival of the last container of the shipment at the Free Zone
Once the TSAD is tagged Arrived at the port of destination, the ABMS will automatically revert the amount charged to the original bond balance.
Failure by the importer to have the GTSB-secured containers arrive on time at the designated destination without a valid reason is sufficient ground for the bond to be forfeited. – Roumina Pablo
