Key points of the Bureau of Customs’ (BOC) 10th live update on April 13 hosted by assistant commissioner and spokesperson Atty. Vincent Philip Maronilla:
- BOC-MICP building is now open but manned by a skeletal workforce. Transactions should still be done online.
- Shipments affected by the glitch in BOC’s e2m system:
- Stakeholders who have paid customs duties and taxes for their shipments prior to e2m shutdown at 10 a.m. of April 4 but whose payments have not been reflected in BOC’s Online Release System (OLRS) should coordinate with terminal operators. Operators should have been given by the BOC Management Information System and Technology Group a list of stakeholders that have already paid duties and taxes. Such shipments should be allowed release.
- Those who lodged their entries from 10 a.m. of April 4 to April 7 should coordinate with their value-added service providers (VASPs); VASPs will re-transmit the entries.
Maronilla explained that when e2m’s primary server returned to full operation on April 8, entries lodged when the back-up server was in use were not transferred to the primary server. BOC has directed VASPs (Cargo Data Exchange Center, E-Konek Pilipinas, Inc., and InterCommerce Network Services, Inc.) to re-transmit the entries, but Maronilla said VASPs are citing the need for an authority from the importer/consignee to re-transmit entries.
- Extension of renewal of expiring accreditation: Maronilla said BOC will not cut accreditation during the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) but advised stakeholders with expiring accreditation to file a renewal application online. He said BOC is discussing the length of extension to be given to stakeholders.
- Extension of submission of hard copies: Stakeholders may request for an extension if the undertaking for submission of hard copies would be affected by the extension of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), Maronilla said. Scanned copies may also be submitted online.
- Filing entries with BOC one-stop shop at NAIA and Port of Manila instead of the Bayanihan One-Stop Shop (BOSS) web portal (BOSS is a one-stop shop for importers securing a license to operate, a requirement to import critical commodities for commercial distribution needed to combat the coronavirus disease in the Philippines): Maronilla said that while they want to use the BOSS web portal, ARTA director general Atty. Jeremiah Belgica said Food and Drug Administration officials will be assigned in BOC NAIA and Port of Manila so imports of critical commodities can be expedited during the ECQ.
Read: https://www.portcalls.com/one-stop-shop-allows-online-application-for-covid-19-critical-goods/
- PEZA transshipments: If unable to secure an import permit (IP) from the Philippine Economic Zone Authority, an Undertaking from even the customs broker will suffice. Maronilla noted the application for an IP may be done online.
Read: https://www.portcalls.com/peza-orders-online-validation-of-e-import-permits/
- Waiving demurrage charges: Maronilla said demurrage is not a charge levied by the BOC (but by shipping lines); BOC has brought up the issue with the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases for consideration.
- Transfer of overstaying containers to decongest Manila International Container Port (MICP): A total of 2,736 overstaying containers have been transferred from MICP as of April 13. Of the total, 836 were transferred to a depot of Pacific Roadlink Logistics, Inc.; 1,803 containers to the domestic terminal in Manila North Harbor; and 97 to the Laguna Gateway Inland Container Terminal. – Roumina Pablo
