Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA)-registered exporters using Batangas port will soon have to file their export declarations electronically.
PEZA director general Lilia De Lima has approved implementation of the Automated Export Declaration System (AEDS) at the port, according to Leo Morada, CEO of Bureau of Customs (BOC)-accredited value-added service provider (VASP) Cargo Data Exchange Center.
A memorandum has yet to be signed, but Morada said implementation is “definitely within June.”
Morada told PortCalls all VASPs are now preparing for the impending adoption of the policy. The BOC-Batangas Export Division staff have also been trained on the use of the barcode reader.
Morada explained that the same AEDS already being implemented at Port of Manila, Manila International Container Port (MICP) and Cebu port, among others, will be used in Batangas so exporters will need little adjustment to the procedure.
The AEDS is a BOC system module for the receipt and processing of the export declaration single administrative document (ED-SAD). An ED-SAD is submitted to the AEDS as electronic representation of the export declaration, in lieu of the Department of Trade and Industry export declaration form used in the manual export declaration process.
The Bureau of Customs and PEZA on December 23, 2010 signed Joint Memorandum Order No. 04-2010 prescribing the full implementation of the AEDS for export shipments of PEZA-registered locator enterprises for loading at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (now Clark International Airport), Port of Manila, MICP, Port of Subic, and Mactan-Cebu International Airport.
Morada said the requirement to lodge via AEDS in Batangas may help drive cargoes to the port facility since outbound shipments via Batangas should technically soon be easier with the electronic initiative.
Philippine Exporters Confederation, Inc. assistant vice president for Advocacy Ma. Flordeliza Leong said, “This is surely an attractive, relevant and useful incentive for exporters to use Batangas Port.”
She, however, noted that “the issue of shipping lines on volume remains.” Leong noted that in recent discussions with Philexport members in Northern Luzon on the use of Subic, another port facility that is as heavily underutilized as Batangas, the members “said it is (still) their buyers who nominate the port. Let’s hope this AEDS development is the trigger that will (help) implement the shift,” Leong said.
Meanwhile, PEZA deputy director general Tereso Panga told PortCalls intra-Asia trade liner MCC has already doubled its calls in Batangas, while APL may call this June. He added that MOL and Evergreen are “seriously considering” to call the Port of Batangas. — Roumina Pablo
