The Philippine Bureau of Customs (BOC) on June 2 launched a cloud-based server dedicated to handling advance manifest system (AMS) submissions and transactions.
The project forms part of a BOC plan to distribute electronic-to-mobile (e2m) processes, which includes the AMS, within multiple servers in an effort to minimize congestion. The e2m system has been constantly plagued with technical glitches, frequently shutting down and causing delays in the lodgement and clearance of entries.
Management Information System and Technology Group (MISTG) chief of Technical Support Division Jonathan Soriano said the migration to a cloud-based environment means “we can add memory… anytime,” freeing e2m from hardware failures.
The AMS cloud project was kick started in line with Customs Administrative Order (CAO) 1-2016 that provides for rules on advance cargo declaration, inward foreign manifest, and consolidated cargo manifest.
MISTG deputy commissioner Dr. Dennis Vladimir Reyes said BOC has soft-implemented CAO 1-2016 since May. Further guidelines may be issued following assessment of the system, he said.
Reyes said strict implementation of the CAO may happen by mid-July or August.
In February, BOC announced it was launching a number of IT projects, including migration to cloud-based server for the AMS, aimed at equipping the agency with solutions to enhance and secure services. The projects, the bureau said, are aligned with the national government’s push toward trade facilitation, and will equip its regulatory, intelligence and law enforcement units with tools to “enhance profiling and decision support capabilities.”
Soriano said the agency targets the set-up of e2m dedicated servers for each of the three BOC-accredited value-added service providers (VASP). With this, he said, the BOC will be able to handle the voluminous transactions VASPs submit to the BOC and “slowdown will be a thing of the past.”
BOC has also rolled out its high-speed management network to replace the previous one that expired in December 2015 as well as introduced its videoconference technology. Several large ports are already equipped with the high-speed network and more ports will soon follow.
The videoconference technology, which was tested during the June 2 rollout, is now available at the Office of the Commissioner, MISTG, Port of Batangas, and Port of Cebu. Reyes noted this will mean savings for BOC with officers no longer having to travel for meetings.
More ports will have the videoconference capability, hopefully within the year, said Reyes.
The MISTG head said he has submitted to the Customs commissioner and other government departments a three-year roadmap for BOC’s future technology system.
Reyes noted the next government should look for a system to meet requirements of the newly signed Customs Modernization and Tariff Act, which mandates BOC to automate its operations.
READ: PH Customs modernization act signed into law
Asked if Asycuda World, a United Nations system used by other customs agencies, could replace e2m, Reyes said it could not because the Philippines has “complexities in governance that doesn’t exist somewhere else.” He did not elaborate.
The next BOC administration, he said, should therefore acquire new hardware.
Customs commissioner Alberto Lina had reportedly favored the use of the less expensive Asycuda World over a multi-billion peso computerization project. Lina had later cancelled the computerization project but the lone qualified bidder had filed a case questioning the cancellation. The case is still pending before a Manila court.
READ: Court halts cancellation of P650M BOC computerization project
Meanwhile, Reyes said the BOC plans to conduct audits on VASPs because “sometimes VASPs need to realize they need to keep their environments on the up and up.”
He said, “You can’t always blame BOC,” noting that VASPs are the ones in direct contact with stakeholders. Stakeholders go through VASPs for their transactions which are then transmitted to the BOC.– Roumina Pablo
Image courtesy of samuiblue at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
