SEAFREIGHT forwarders are up in arms over the strict implementation of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) electronic-to-mobile/import assessment system (e2m/IAS), specifically the submission of the electronic consolidated cargo manifest (e-CCM).
“The BOC is now very strict particularly in the submission of manifests which has resulted in undue penalties on the part of the forwarders,” Philippine International Seafreight Forwarders Association (PISFA) president Nelson Mendoza told PortCalls.
“The BOC is blocking manifests from forwarders even if these are submitted well within the six hours after vessel arrival,” he said.
Previously, there were reported instances where e-CCMs were successfully validated in the e2m system even after the cut-off submission time of six hours before vessel arrival expired.
“We are now of the belief that the BOC is ganging up on forwarders as we are being penalized during system failures even if the fault lies with the BOC,” Mendoza stressed.
He said the association will seek an audience with the BOC to address the issue.
It maybe recalled that PISFA earlier proposed the submission of the e-CCM within the first six working hours after arrival of the vessel under the following circumstances – if the vessels arrive after regular working hours (ie, after 1700 hours of the day and prior to 0800 hours of the following day); and during weekends and on long or extended holidays.
Considering some vessels arrive during nighttime, the association pointed out there is no time for forwarders to prepare the submissions except by extending work hours and by incurring additional cost in terms of equipment and labor expense.
In addition, PISFA said there have been many instances when shipping lines commit errors in their manifest submission, resulting in further delays and exposing forwarders to penalties for late submission of the e-CCM.BOC denied the request.
