The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) is expected to fully apply the use of the Automated Export Declaration System (AEDS) on its locators starting February 20.
In a recent meeting with stakeholders, including members of the Semiconductor and Electronic Industries of the Philippines, Inc (SEIPI), PEZA said it was finalizing a memorandum that will operationalize the AEDS.
PortCalls sources said PEZA will scrap the AEDS system currently in place between PEZA-accredited value-added service provider (VASP) E-Konek Pilipinas and SEIPI members before rolling out the new AEDS.
Also the export shipment transfer fee (ESTF) shall be renamed export shipment fee and will be uniformly applied on all PEZA locators, including SEIPI members.
Under the existing AEDS between E-Konek and SEIPI, SEIPI members are exempt from payment of the ESTF. PEZA’s two other accredited VASPs, InterCommerce Network Services and Apollo Technologies, along with other non-SEIPI member locators had questioned why the exemption was not applied on all for a level playing field.
The EPF will be equivalent to a flat rate of Php150 (regardless of whether the shipment is LCL or FCL) for the first six months of implementation. Thereafter Php225 shall be applied per export declaration for LCL shipments and Php225 per two FCL; and Php112.50/FCL in excess.
Under the soon-to-be fully adopted PEZA AEDS system, all export entries must be made electronically using any of the three VASPs. The system also requires locators to provide PEZA and the freeport zones their own list of exportable items as well as an auto-debit system for transfer fees using the cash advance system.
Meanwhile, the Bureau of Customs’ own version of the AEDS may also be imposed next month pending completion of a supplemental memo requested by the Export Development Council that, among others, identifies expiration date on the use of the export declaration.
Photo courtesy of http://www.peza.gov.ph/
