A growing number of freight forwarders/consolidators/non-vessel operating common carriers transacting at the Port of Manila and Manila International Container Port (MICP) are now fast tracking preparations for the eventual implementation of e2m Customs Import Assessment System Electronic Manifest.
This is the overall assessment during orientation seminars recently conducted by Cargo Data Exchange Center, Inc (CDEC), a customs-accredited value added service provider (VASP).
The half-day seminars were attended by more than 300 participants composed of senior management, manifest documentation and customer service staff belonging to freight forwarder/cargo consolidator and NVOCC companies, all active clients of CDEC’s electronic consolidation manifest submission service to the Bureau of Customs (BOC) at the Port of Manila, Manila International Port, and Manila Harbour Centre.
Seminar participants were advised to have their respective managements follow a CPRS compliance checklist consisting of five action items: submit to Philippine Shippers’ Bureau a completely filled up and notarized BOC e2m Client Profile Registration System (CPRS) form, obtain from PSB the user account (username and password) that will be used to access CPRS portal (www.customs.gov.ph/nsw ), encode complete client profile data into BOC CPRS using internet connection, receive through email from BOC CPRS system the unique Customs Client Number (CCN), and receive through email from BOC CPRS the electronic copy of Certificate of Registration.
Among seminar topics were the electronic manifest experience gained by CDEC and shipping lines and agents during the ongoing e2m Customs IAS implementation in Batangas port which commenced March 21, 2009, and procedures on ensuring timely and successful submission of consolidation e-manifest to e2m Customs IAS.
The highlight of each seminar was a live demonstration on how to use CDEC VASP for e-manifest submission. Since all participants are existing clients of CDEC, they are assured of smooth transition from the current system of Automated Customs Operation System (ACOS) manifest to the new e2m Customs IAS electronic manifest submission through VASP.
CDEC said similar orientation sessions will be extended to other forwarders/consolidators and NVOCCs which still submit ACOS consolidation manifest using data diskettes.
Last May 7, CDEC also conducted a well-attended orientation seminar for shipping lines and ship agents. The event was attended by almost 100 participants composed of documentation, operations and customer service staff belonging to members of the Association of International Shipping Lines, Philippine Ship Agents Association and other non-affiliated shipping lines and agents. Also present were representatives from Asian Terminals, Inc and International Container Terminal Services, Inc. — Leo V. Morada
