Philippine Customs commissioner Isidro Lapeña has instructed the Accounts Management Office (AMO) to process the applications of importers and customs brokers registering with the Bureau of Customs (BOC) faster in order to avoid delays and prevent corruption.
The new customs chief said he has instructed AMO to finish the review and processing of applications in three to five days, provided that requirements have been completed.
Importers and customs brokers wanting to transact with BOC need to go to AMO to complete the second tranche of the accreditation process. The first part involves securing a clearance certificate from BOC’s sister agency, Bureau of Internal Revenue.
“I feel that the process time that is being practiced at present can be improved,” Lapeña said at a press briefing on September 20.
He said he has received information that AMO sometimes takes a month to approve an application.
The BOC chief said delays in approving an application may tempt employees to commit corruption if applicants resort to bribery in order to get their application approved more quickly.
Under Customs Memorandum Order No. 11-2014 (revised guidelines for the registration of importers and customs brokers), all applications for accreditation shall be acted upon not later than 15 working days upon receipt of application, together with documentary requirements. The processing period will not run if any required document is lacking.
Quicker processing of applications for registration is one of the measures BOC is doing to ensure that stakeholders pay the correct duties and taxes and do not contribute to “breeding corruption” in the customs bureau, Lapeña said. – Roumina Pablo
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