THE Chamber of Customs Brokers Inc.(CCBI) has expressed readiness for the full implementation of Republic Act 9280 or the Customs Brokers Act of 2004 and Customs Administrative Order No (CAO) 3-2006. "The customs brokers and customs representatives, duly accredited by the CCBI are ready and able to operate as your partner for trade facilitation and revenue collection," CCBI president Atty. Jose Leabres, in a letter to Customs commissioner Napoleon Morales, said. CCBI is the only accredited professional organization under the CAO. In accordance with paragraphs 1, 2 and 3, Part VII of the CAO, CCBI said it has already accredited a total of 1,291 customs brokers while 4,239 customs representatives or personeros have attended CCBI-conducted training as of July. "With this number, your function for trade facilitation and revenue collection will not be jeopardized with the full implementation of the law," Leabres added. Leabres said the almost three years since RA 9280 was signed by President Arroyo and the almost six months since the CAO 3-2006 was approved by Finance Secretary Margarito Teves are more than enough for affected companies to change their business practices. Originally, CAO 3-2006, which operationalizes RA 9280 at the Bureau of Customs (BOC), was scheduled to take effect May 22, 2006. However, Morales issued a 60-day suspension period until July 21 to avoid what he said was the impending dislocation of employment of personnel of customs brokerage firms, and other logistical issues that may result from the strict implementation of the CAO.
But on July 19, Morales again issued an additional 30-day extension until August 21 to give time to the technical working group amending the CAO 3-2006 to complete its work. CCBI is requesting a meeting with BOC legal division and Customs Accreditation Secretariat chief Atty. Reynaldo Umali with regard to the full implementation of the law.
