The Bureau of Customs (BOC) said it will implement by June two Customs Memorandum Orders (CMOs) tightening control on the flow of goods in the country’s ports.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the BOC said the implementation of CMO 05-2019 in line with the registration of truckers and CMO 18-2019 on the lodgement period for goods declaration will be implemented on June 1 as agreed upon during a public consultation held on May 16 at the Port area in Manila. The BOC said that it will be issuing amended or revised versions for the orders.
On May 16, Commissioner Rey Leonardo B. Guerrero convened the heads and representatives of various stakeholders’ association of the BOC and the officials of the bureau.
The Customs chief explained during the forum the BOC issued the CMOs for purposes of trade facilitation and revenue-generation enhancement.
The stakeholders were given an opportunity to present their inputs on the guidelines that were taken into consideration by the BOC, according to Guerrero.
“BOC will make the necessary remedies to the orders that are more advantageous to both the government and the stakeholders,” he added.
Earlier in May, the BOC deferred the implementation of the shortened period for the lodgement of goods declaration.
Under CMO 18-2019, which was issued on April 29, the BOC has ordered the adjustment of the period of lodgement of goods, declaration of goods, and payment of duties and taxes from 15 days to seven days from the date of discharge of the last package from the vessel or aircraft.
The shortened period for the lodgement of goods declaration was pointed out to help in terms of keeping with the BOC’s mandate on facilitating trade, optimizing revenue generation, further easing port congestion, streamlining processes, as well as protecting the interest of its stakeholders.
The Chamber of Customs Brokers Inc. (CCBI) sent a letter to Guerrero on May 2 requesting for the deferment of the implementation of CMO 18-2019, stating no public consultation was mounted with BOC stakeholders before the issuance of the said CMO.
These concerns emphasize it takes more than seven days for requirements to be completed by customs brokers when dealing with shipments that go through the BOC.
In February, the Confederation of Truckers Association of the Philippines Inc. welcomed the suspension of the implementation of CMO 05-2019 in line with the registration of truckers that do business with the bureau. According to the CTAP, there is still a need for further consultation with stakeholders to address all concerns.
CTAP’s Legal Counsel Ryan P. Esponilla told the BusinessMirror that CMO 05-2019, which requires truckers to submit documents for the BOC database, is just duplicity.
The CMO requires truckers to register at the BOC’s Account Management Office (AMO) for those operating in Metro Manila, or with the office of the district collector nearest to its principal place if outside the metropolis. A registration fee of P5,000 is asked from applicants attaching a BOC official receipt upon payment.
The suspension of the CMO came on the heels of the CCBI’s request for the BOC to defer its implementation, citing that the CMO “did not undergo the usual public and government consultation before the said CMO was finalized and approved by your office.