THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) has ordered the lodgement of goods declaration period cut from 15 days to seven days, after holding public consultations beginning last April.
Customs Memorandum Order 27-2019 revises the provision on the lodgement of goods declaration under a CMO the bureau issued in 2016.
Under Republic Act 10863, or An Act Modernizing the Customs and Tariff Administration, all imported goods shall be subject to the lodgement of a goods declaration.
“A goods declaration may be for consumption, for customs bonded warehousing, for admission, for conditional importation, or for customs transit,” Section 50 of the law said.
Earlier in the month, Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo B. Guerrero signed CMO 27-2019 implementing the seven-day period for the filing of goods declaration with the BOC taking effect on June 15.
The BOC said the move is in line with the provision of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA), which states that the lodgement of goods declaration may be extended on valid grounds and that “provided, however, that the period of the lodgement of the goods declaration may be adjusted by the commissioner.”
Last April, the BOC issued CMO 18-2019 to help tighten the control on the flow of goods in the country’s ports, which aims to eradicate port congestion. CMO 18-2019 was issued on April 29, but its implementation was suspended to give way to a public consultation requested by its various stakeholders.
Under the CMTA, the Professional Customs Brokers Association of the Philippines Inc. (PCBAPI) said the Customs commissioner is empowered to implement the provision ordering the filing and lodgement of goods declaration within a 15-day period, as well as extending the period for another 15 days if needed, for a total of 30 days.
The PCBAPI said there is no provision under the CMTA that the BOC commissioner can reduce the period stipulated in the law for the period of the lodgement of goods declaration.
The group also said 15 days is not enough time for shipments to be covered by a letter of credit and to secure the necessary clearance from several government agencies.