BUREAU of Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero is confident his agency is on its way to achieving “full automation” of its entire processes, especially its frontline operations, with the development and implementation of its 30 ICT-based projects and systems last year.
According to the customs chief, who is expected to step down as customs commissioner when a new administration takes office after the 2022 elections, four of the major ICT-based completed projects last year include:
The Automated Bonds Management System (ABMS); Authorized Economic Operator Online Portal (AEO); Automated Inventory Management System (AIMS); and, Electronic Advance Ruling System (e-ARS).
The ABMS is a bureau-wide system, which was officially launched at the Port of Manila last August 11, 2021.
It monitors the status of customs bonds from their posting up to their cancellation while expediting the settlement or collection of due and demandable bonds and flagging those that have matured.
The AEO Portal, on the other hand, is to be used by stakeholders in applying for the AEO Program. The system, which was launched last August 25, 2021, will cater to the online submission, processing, and approval of AEO applications of both importers and exporters.
The AIMS, for its part, is designed for customs bonded warehouses (CBWs) and is a tool to determine and monitor the stock inventory of bonded goods from the time of its entry into the CBW up to liquidation of the goods declaration covered by the Warehousing Single Administrative Document (W-SAD). The program was also launched at the POM last September 14, 2021.
Also, in the month of September, the BOC formally launched the e-ARS which was developed for the electronic submission of application and supporting documents for Advance Ruling on Origin and Valuation of imported goods.
Aside from these four major programs, the other 26 ICT-based programs now being used by the BOC include:
Customs Dashboard; High-Performance Server; Co-location/Backup Server; Customer Care Portal System (CCPS); Document Tracking System (DTS); Cargo Targeting System;
Alert Orders Monitoring System (AOMS); Parcel and Balikbayan Boxes Tracking System; Informal Entry System (IES) for Low Dutiable Value; Trade Engine (TRE); Universal Risk Management System; Electronic Tracking of Containerized Cargo (E-TRACC);
Enhanced Value Reference Information System (e-VRIS); Internal Administration Management System (IAMS); E2M Stabilization, Support, and Maintenance; Computerization of Super Green Lane Office; General Transportation Surety Bond Online Inquiry; Automated Routing and Monitoring System (ARMS); Inventory Management System (IMS) for CY/CFS; Client Profile Registration System (CPRS) Status Online Inquiry;
Pre-payment Online Inquiry System (POIS); Prepayment System for all types of Declarations; Offense Database; Backup Network and Internet; Electronic Certificate of Origin (eCO); and, National Customs Enforcement Network (NCEN)
All these projects, the customs chief added, are included in the agency’s Information Systems Strategic Plan (ISSP) they submitted to the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).