THE Bureau of Customs now requires third parties who transact with the bureau on behalf of other entities to register with the BOC first.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the BOC said it has issued Customs Administrative Order (CAO) 06-2019 in order to tighten the BOC’s watch on all those transacting with the bureau.
“As part of its initiatives to address corruption and smuggling in the BOC, the bureau issued CAO 06-2019, if only to tighten its watch over all those authorized to deal with the bureau,” the BOC said.
Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo B. Guerrero and Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III issued the order three years after the signing into law of Republic Act 10863. The law requires all third parties who may be authorized to transact with the BOC on behalf of another person or entity to register with the bureau first. These entities include private carriers, common carriers for transit cargoes freight forwarders, logistics providers, airline carriers, agents of shipping lines, and consolidators that are in importation and exportation.
“Third parties who may be authorized to transact with the bureau on behalf of another person or entity in compliance with the CMTA [Customs Modernization and Tariff Act] shall be treated equally as legitimate importers or consignees,” the BOC added.
Under the CAO, third parties are instructed to maintain and make available records of transaction performed on behalf of the importer or consignee and exporter, to report violations of customs law to the BOC, to cooperate during any investigation conducted by the bureau and to comply with its rules and regulations.
Interested third parties who are members of an organization duly accredited by concerned government agencies must also apply for registration with the bureau’s account management office (AMO) or its equivalent office and provide the appropriate documents such as Proof of Membership in good standing, Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Certificate of Registration, Mayor’s Permit and other requirements, with an annual registration fee of P1,000.
Once application is approved, a Certificate of Registration will be issued by the BOC, which will be valid for one year from date of approval.
CAO 06-2019 shall take effect 30 calendar days after its publication in the Official Gazette or a newspaper of national
circulation.