By LEO V. MORADA, IT Columnist
MORE than two months after the e2m Customs Import Assessment System (IAS) was implemented in the Port of Subic on February 16, Cargo Data Exchange Center Inc (CDEC) continues to be the preferred value-added service provider (VASP) of shipping agents, shipping lines and seafreight forwarders/consolidators in the advance submission of electronic inward foreign manifest to e2m Customs in the Port of Subic.
CDEC is one of the three customs-accredited VASPs that provide Internet-based services for electronic transactions with e2m Customs by importers, customs brokers, airlines, shipping lines and their agents, forwarders/consolidators, and other stakeholders.
To date, a total of 24 shipping lines and agents and 31 forwarders/consolidators regularly use CDEC VASP when submitting their advance electronic manifest to e2m Customs IAS in Subic. These include the big container shipping lines which regularly call at the New Container Terminal-1 and the bulk (liquid and dry) vessels, general cargo ships and car/vehicle carriers that discharge import cargoes at the former Naval Supply Depot (NSD) and other wharves.
As of April 26, CDEC VASP already handled advanced manifest submissions for 75 inbound vessels which discharged import containers at NCT-1 and import cargoes at NSD and other wharves.
It is significant to note that the start-up implementation problems usually experienced whenever advanced electronic manifest submission is initially implemented in a customs port were not encountered in the case of Subic. This is largely attributed to the extensive information dissemination conducted among port stakeholders prior to February 16 and the proactive efforts of Bureau of Customs Subic Collection District in ensuring readiness by its own personnel on how to use e2m IAS as part of day-to-day customs administration.
CDEC always makes sure its VASP customer service and IT system infrastructure are configured to align with the trade service and vessel operations network throughout the Philippines of its shipping line and freight forwarder clients thereby providing a standard, common Internet-based technology platform through which advanced electronic manifest submission is made to all customs ports wherein e2m Customs system is implemented.
Aside from Subic, advanced electronic manifest submission to e2m Customs is already fully implemented in the ports of Aparri (Cagayan), San Fernando (La Union), Port of Manila (South Harbor), Manila International Container Port, Limay and Mariveles (Bataan), Iloilo, Tacloban, Cebu, Cagayan de Oro and Davao.
Leo V. Morada is a domain expert on IT applications in Philippine port operations with 25years senior IT management experience implementing technology solutions in port operations, electronic transactions with customs & port authority, and port community system applications for both seafreight & airfreight. He is currently CEO of Cargo Data Exchange Center, Incorporated which is a customs-accredited Value Added Service Provider. He can be contacted at lmorada3f1@yahoo.com.
