INTERCOMMERCE Network Services (INS), one of the value-added service providers accredited by the Bureau of Customs (BOC), will commence its e-payment system next month.
INS president Francis Lopez told PortCalls the company is now testing the system with one bank and negotiating with eight others. INS declined to identify the banks although two are believed to be Land Bank of the Philippines and Development Bank of the Philippines.
“Hopefully we will have all nine banks before we begin our tests with the BOC for their own electronic payment system,” Lopez added.
The BOC will start next month its own e-payment system involving 36 banks to facilitate shipment release and promote cashless transaction. The system is up for testing in the next few days.
According to the BOC e-payment guidelines, any stakeholder that fails to secure an agreement with any bank faces shipment delays as well as the non-release of electronic permits.
The guidelines also require accredited banks to inform the BOC of the payment made by the shipper within 20 minutes, and the BOC to release papers for the shipment or the permits electronically within 10 minutes.
“We are also talking with the BOC to help us get the nod of their accredited banks to accept online payment for our services and that of the agency,” Lopez explained.
Lopez said the INS e-payment system complements the online lodgment of import entries already being offered by VASPs. E-payment becomes more important now that the coverage of the online import entry lodgment by VASPs has been expanded to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, the ports of Cebu, Davao, and Clark, he added.
