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A new feature of the Electronic Tracking of Containerized Cargo System has been introduced by Ascent Solutions Philippines Inc., the Bureau of Customs service provider for the system
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The new feature allows prepaid users to top up funds just by uploading the proof of deposit/deposit slip directly onto the system’s website
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Some features, including live container tracking, official receipt view, and e-mail notifications, were also re-introduced
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A new version of the E-TRACC mobile app was launched on May 25
A new feature of the Electronic Tracking of Containerized Cargo (E-TRACC) System has been introduced by Ascent Solutions Philippines Inc., the Bureau of Customs (BOC) service provider for the system.
The feature allows prepaid users to top-up funds just by uploading the proof of deposit/deposit slip directly onto the system’s website, making the top-up procedure more efficient, organized, and systematic for clients, Ascent told PortCalls in a Viber message.
Real-time notification was also introduced to keep users informed of the status of their funding requests.
Users, however, may still request to use the previous procedure of sending an email to the Ascent accounting team and attaching the deposit slip.
Ascent also reintroduced some features, including live container tracking, official receipt (OR) view, and e-mail notifications.
Live tracking provides prepaid users a GPS map viewer to track the location of their containers. Live tracking has been reintroduced so that more E-TRACC users can be aware of this feature.
Aside from live tracking, users may be informed of the status of their containers – whether they have departed their origin, arrived at the destination, and the electronic customs seal (ECS) has been disarmed at the destination – through e-mail notifications.
New version of mobile app
A new version of the E-TRACC mobile app was likewise launched on May 25. The app, which may be downloaded from the E-TRACC website, was initially launched on November 17, 2022.
The mobile app, like the website version, allows users to track and trace the movement of each of their containers regardless of its status and coverage dates.
It also features the transaction history of clients with prepaid accounts and a booking list, which shows the container and booking details, including GPS maps that show the containers’ status.
Like the web version, the mobile app allows prepaid users to top-up their funds just by uploading the proof of deposit/deposit slip directly at the mobile app.
Ascent has also been providing online trainings/sessions to inform users of the E-TRACC System’s updates and features.
E-TRACC is a system launched in 2020 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.
Under Customs Memorandum Order (CMO) No. 04-2020, which implements the E-TRACC System, an ECS is required during the transfer of cargo to a container yard/container freight station (CY/CFS) or to other customs facilities and warehouses; 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, customs cargo clearance must be fully completed before any shipment can be sealed with an ECS.
BOC had said earlier that E-TRACC successful trips in 2022 reached 508,454 from 295,928 trips in 2021, and 60,454 trips in its first year of implementation in 2020.
In 2020, the system was implemented on various dates in six collection districts, namely Port of Manila, Batangas, Manila International Container Port, Cebu, Clark, and Subic.
In 2021, Cagayan de Oro and Davao followed suit, and so did the subport of General Santos (previously Dadiangas) in 2022.
As of March 2023, the system was implemented in 19 CY/CFS, 209 CBWs, 346 cold storage facilities, 109 economic zones, and 19 condemnation facilities. – Roumina Pablo
RELATED READ: BOC issues E-TRACC rules on import, export cargoes for CBWs
