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The Bureau of Customs subport of Mariveles finally implemented the Electronic Tracking of Containerized Cargo System
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A container from the Freeport Area of Bataan was the first to be armed with an electronic customs seal during the launch of the system on December 10
The Bureau of Customs (BOC) subport of Mariveles in Limay, Bataan has finally implemented the Electronic Tracking of Containerized Cargo System (E-TRACC System).
The first trip using the E-TRACC System on December 10 involved a container that arrived at the Freeport Area of Bataan from Subic port in Zambales.
E-TRACC, which was launched last May, is a web-based system that tracks the 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.
READ: BOC orders e-tracking of cargoes in transit
E-TRACC was established under Customs Memorandum Order (CMO) 04-2020, which was issued last February.
Under CMO 04-2020, an electronic customs seal (ECS) is required during the transfer of cargo to a container yard/container freight station (CY/CFS) or other CFWs; transit of cargo bound for Free Zones, inland customs office, depots, or terminals; transit to customs bonded warehouses (CBW); 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.
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, full completion of customs cargo clearance is mandatory before any shipment is 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.
E-TRACC is currently implemented for all containers—except those containing electronic materials—discharged from the Port of Manila, Manila International Container Port, and Port of Batangas that are covered by the transit single administrative document and bound for Laguna Technopark, Inc. and Cavite Economic Zone.
The system is also being implemented in Davao.
Imports for other Philippine Economic Zone Authority zones will be covered by another customs memorandum.
