THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) has issued a memorandum order in line with further monitoring principal appraisers (PAs) to ensure the accuracy in the declaration of documents falling under customs valuation purposes.
Customs Memorandum Order (CMO) 26-2018, signed last week by Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo B. Guerrero, placed the operational control over PAs to its Imports Assessment Service (IAS), while still keeping administrative supervision with district and subport collectors.
The move was meant to expedite processes for stakeholders, as well as ensure the correct valuation of goods entering the country through the ports.
“All concerned PAs are hereby directed to ascertain the truth or accuracy of any statement, document or declaration, presented for customs valuation purposes,” the CMO said.
Furthermore, the IAS is instructed to closely monitor the PAs and ensure the correct valuation of goods through the use of applicable methods of valuation found under the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.
“Failure to correctly value and assess the goods shall not be tolerated and shall be dealt with accordingly,” the CMO added.
The bureau’s Management Information System and Technology Group was also directed to closely coordinate with the IAS in line with providing all the necessary data for efficient
monitoring.
In October the BOC implemented its 1-Assessment which electronically monitors the processing of the import of goods declaration in all ports nationwide, under CMO 17-2018 signed by former Customs Commissioner Isidro S. Lapeña.
The 1-Assessment platform is a Web-based management application system specifically for the appraisal of imported goods, which incorporates zero human contact in transactions between customs officers and importers.
Lapeña had pointed out that the system will help reduce red tape, as well as the collusion between customs appraisers or brokers and importers.
Image credits: Nonie Reyes