With ongoing publicity at the Bureau of Customs and the reported revamp affecting deputy commissioners, district collectors and sub-port collectors, many stakeholders are speculating on what will happen to customs automation projects.
For one, the contract for the Php 418-million Integrated Philippine Customs System (i-PCS) awarded to Dubai-based Webb Fontaine is on hold with the issuance of a temporary restraining order and later a preliminary injunction by a local court.
Despite this legal setback, Webb Fontaine was notably very active during the past 10 days, issuing press releases that highlighted the i-PCS’s goal to boost BOC anti-smuggling efforts.
Stakeholder Compliance to BOC e2m AEDS
For July 2013, the unofficial estimate of e2m Automated Export Declaration System (AEDS) electronic lodgments is a little over 13,300 electronic export declarations. In terms of electronic ED compliance based on port of loading, the estimated breakdown is as follows:
Manila International Port- 62%
Key Mindanao ports – 17%
Cebu International Port – 7%
Port of Manila – 5%
NAIA (pilot participants) – 8%
Other ports – 1%
Vessel Calls in Batangas Port (Inbound Only)
Also for July, a total of 32 vessels carrying import shipments of various commodities called at the Port of Batangas (Barangay Sta Clara). Only 3 out of the total were loaded with import containers.
During the same period, 30 vessels called at the sub-port of Bauan. None of these was a containerized vessel.
Vessel Calls in Iloilo Port (Inbound Only)
Again for July, a total of 7 vessels carrying import shipments of various commodities called at the Port of Iloilo. Meanwhile, 8 vessels called at the sub-port of Pulupandan and discharged import cargo.
BOC e2m System is now being fully implemented at the port of Iloilo and sub-port Pulupandan.
Leo V. Morada is a domain expert on IT applications in Philippine port operations with 25 years’ senior IT management experience implementing technology solutions in port operations, electronic transactions with customs & port authority, and air/sea port community system applications. He is CEO of Cargo Data Exchange Center, Inc, a customs-accredited Value-Added Service Provider. He can be contacted at lmorada3f1@yahoo.com.
