THE Export Development Council (EDC) last week rejected a proposed Customs Memorandum Order (CMO) on the lodgment of export entries because it did not give exporters a choice in the system and service provider they want to use.

The draft put together by E-Konek Pilipinas, one of the accredited value-added service providers (VASP) of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) in freeport and eco zones, supposedly effectively limited to itself the lodgment of export entries through the use of its Automated Export Documentation System (AEDS).

BOC has another VASP in freeports and eco zones — InterCommerce Network Services (INS).

The automated submission of export declarations is part of Phase 4 of the electronic-to-mobile project (e2m) of the BOC, which is targeted for implementation on November 2, 2010.

“There are really vague provisions in the proposed CMO crafted by E-Konek, particularly the use of the AEDS as they are the only one that offers it,” INS president Francis Lopez explained.

Another meeting with stakeholders, including INS and E-Konek Pilipinas, will be convened at the EDC tomorrow (October 19) to craft the new CMO for approval by the BOC.

Among issues for discussion are the use of the AEDS and the e2m.

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