The Philippine Bureau of Customs (BOC) expects to start the second phase of the National Single Window (NSW) by yearend.
“As of now, there are already 30 out of the 40 (government) agencies linked to the NSW and the remaining 10 will be connected soon,” Customs deputy commissioner for Management Information System and Technology Group Ma. Caridad Manarang said at the recent PortCalls Cargo Economics Conference at the Manila Diamond Hotel.
Through the NSW, traders electronically submit forms for export, import, and transit procedures only once, and they are processed and cleared by multiple government agencies in a single integrated process.
NSW’s Phase 2 involves government-wide rationalization, standardization and harmonization of all trade data and enhancement of trade portals. It also links NSW to the Asean Single Window which is for implementation early next year.
Asean member-states have agreed to establish their respective NSWs by 2012 and connect them through the ASW, a cornerstone for establishing the ASEAN Economic Community by 2015.
The 30 Philippine agencies where NSW is now operational are the Board of Investments, Bureau of Animal Industry, BOC, Bureau of Export and Trade Promotion, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Bureau of Import Services, Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), Bureau of Quarantine, Bureau of Plant Industry, Bureau of Product Standards (BPS), Dangerous Drugs Board, Department of Health, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, Environment Management Bureau, Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority, Firearms and Explosives Office, Food and Drug Administration, Forest Management Bureau, Maritime Industry Authority, National Food Authority, National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS), National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), Optical Media Board, Philippine Coconut Authority, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, Philippine Economic Zone Authority, Philippine National Police, Philippine Nuclear Research Institute, Philippine Ozone Desk and Sugar Regulatory Board.
The BOC is also pilot testing NSW with seven agencies with regional representation — BIR, BPS, Bureau of Quarantine, Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority, Food and Drug Administration, NMIS and NTC.
