THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) has relaxed its container scanning procedures, exempting from the process shipments with certificates of origin (COO).
Newly installed x-ray inspection project chief Atty. Lourdes Mangaoang said, “Shipments with COO may be exempted from scanning as its quantity and value can be counterchecked from the COO.”
The agency’s scanning focus will instead turn to small and medium enterprises and a few big corporations with high risk of smuggling, she said.
She added the easing of procedures ensures prevention of container pile-ups, a big problem for the BOC since the start of the scanning requirement last year.
One company exempt from scanning is multinational Nestle, which provides information on the quantity and value of its goods.
Mangaoang said the bureau will be strict in enforcing which cargoes will be scanned and not.
“The customs police will now be designated to man and police the x-ray scanning operations,” she added.
In the past six months, scanning fees have contributed P4 million to BOC coffers.
The bureau is also embarking on a project that would make scanned cargo images visible in several customs offices, including the Office of the President.
The project, which requires P150 million, will deter the person scanning questionable shipments from looking the other way, according to Customs deputy commissioner Alexander Arevalo.
The BOC has already installed 19 non-intrusive scanners; 11 more will be installed by end-January in major ocean gateways including Harbour Centre, the North Harbor, and Cebu, Clark and Zamboanga ports.
