The new Philippine Bureau of Customs (BOC) rule mandating the advance submission of the sea manifest takes effect on May 1, according to Customs Commissioner Alberto Lina.
Lina, in a presentation during the United Portusers Confederation Logistics Summit on March 30, said Customs Administrative Order (CAO) No. 01-2016—or the rule governing the advance filing of cargo declaration, inward foreign manifest (IFM), and consolidated cargo manifest (CCM)—is set for implementation next month.
The CAO, dated January 22 but made available on the BOC website only on March 23, had earlier indicated the immediate effectivity of the ruling.
“Planning is an essential aspect of all logistical activities, hence, this requires more advance information that will help us validate data, evaluate and allocate sources and make provisions for contingencies,” Lina said, adding this was the rationale for the issuance of CAO 01-2016.
READ: BOC requires earlier submission of sea manifest
In an interview with PortCalls after his presentation, Lina said BOC held dialogues with stakeholders and that a memorandum of agreement has been signed with the Association of International Shipping Lines (AISL) “for smooth implementation” of the new rule.
AISL general manager Atty. Maximino Cruz, in text messages to PortCalls, confirmed the compliance of its member lines to CAO 01-2016.
“We will, however, request some leniency in the submission of the information required in the electronic transmission of the cargo manifest at the origin port,” Cruz noted.
“Lines can only supply whatever information is/are available when the mother vessel departs origin port en route to the port of transhipment,” he pointed out.
Asked if shipping lines can provide the manifest within the new prescribed period, Cruz said, “Yes, as long as the leniency we will be asking for will be granted.” AISL will be submitting its written request to BOC on April 4.
CAO 01-2016 requires the electronic transmittal of cargo information to BOC “within 24 hours after the time of departure of carrying vessel from the port of origin, first from the mother vessel or any vessel departing from the actual exporting port of origin and finally, if any, from feeder vessel destined to any importing port in the Philippines.”
The current practice is to submit the manifest 12 hours before the vessel arrives at a Philippine port.
The requirement covers shipping lines and ship agents, non-vessel operating common carriers, and freight forwarders, cargo consolidators and co-loaders whose cargoes are ultimately destined to the Philippines.
In case containerized cargoes are transported by a feeder vessel or any vessel with any port in the Philippines as the port of discharge, the IFM must be submitted electronically within 24 hours and the CCM within 36 hours from the time the vessel departs from the last port of call with its destination being any importing port in the Philippines. – Roumina Pablo
