Dominguez lauds BOC’s 2-year performance under Guerrero

DEPARTMENT of Finance (DOF) secretary, Carlos Dominguez, again heaped praises on the Bureau of Customs (BOC) under the leadership of Comm. Rey Leonardo Guerrero, even as the agency prepares the country for the shift to electronic exchange with our ASEAN neighbors and influx into the country of more travelers as restrictions eases down due to the decrease of COVID-19 cases.

“The Bureau of Customs performed exceedingly well through these two difficult years. Notwithstanding the constraints imposed by the public health crisis, the Bureau’s revenue collection in 2021 grew by 20 percent compared to 2020.

“It likewise surpassed its collection target last year by 4 percent. Remarkably, the 2021 collection was even higher than in 2019, before the pandemic came upon us.” Dominguez said during the 120^th anniversary of the BOC last February 23, 2022.

The finance chief was referring to the fact that in 2020, the BOC collected a total revenue of P537.687 billion, surpassing its collection target by 6.23 pbercent or by P31.537 billion. Meanwhile in 2021, the BOC was able to generate a total revenue of P643.562 billion, once again exceeding its collection target by 4.4 percent equivalent to P26.813 billion.

The consistent performance of the BOC is attributed to the organizational reforms and modernization programs initiated by the agency.

Since 2019, the BOC successfully digitalized 82 percent, or 139 of its customs processes through the development and implementation of 30 Information and Communications Technology (ICT) projects.

This also resulted in the increased efficiency in customs operations which enabled the agency to address the growing needs of its stakeholders in a timely and transparent manner during the ongoing health crisis.

Moreover, since 2019, the first full year of Guerrero as customs chief, the BOC enrolled in the 4-Stage Performance Governance System (PGS) of the Institute for Solidarity in Asia to strengthen its reformation and transformation efforts to promote quality, integrity, and efficiency within the bureau.

The enrollment to the PGS effectively laid down the framework for both the current and future administration to work towards a better and integrity driven governance campaign.

Guerrero was appointed to Customs by Pres. Duterte in October 2018 and vowed to restore the public’s trust in the agency by coming with a yearly ’10-Point Reform Programs.’

Meanwhile, the BOC, in a press statement last March 6, 2022, said it is now in the midst of preparing the country for the adoption of the electronic exchange with our neighbors under the ASEAN Customs Declaration Document.

Deputy Commissioner Allan C. Geronimo of the BOC Management Information Systems and Technology Group (MISTG), and Vice-Chair for Technical Matters of the National Single Window – Technical Working Group (NSW-TWG) led the consultation and briefing session for the ASEAN Customs Declaration Document (ACDD) held last March 03, 2022.

The ACDD is an electronic document that facilitates the exchange of export declaration information between exchange-ready AMS to support its risk management activities.

The expected benefits for participating traders include potential reduction in customs clearance time for consignments which are supported by the ACDD and imported into exchange-ready AMS.

The Philippines successfully participated in the live operation of the ACDD using the ASEAN Single Window (ASW) System and is able to exchange the ACDD with Cambodia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore and Thailand since January 21, 2022.

The briefing session provided an opportunity for BOC officials who will play vital role in the ACDD implementation to seek clarifications on the draft Customs Memorandum Order (CMO) for the ACDD implementation and gain better understanding on how to navigate the ACDD Operations Portal and the BOC Routing Platform.

The MISTG shall be responsible for the “extraction” of data element from BOC Export SAD and general administration of the ACDD Operations Portal.

Other offices involved include the Export Coordination Division (ECD) for the monitoring of all outbound ACDD messages, the Export Divisions (ED) to support the conduct of outreach sessions for exporters, importers and customs brokers and, the Risk Management Office (RMO) for the utilization of the inbound ACDD messages to support its risk management activities.

“Optimizing the management of trade facilitation activities has been a major key component in the BOC’s goal to achieving full economic and trade visibility and cross-border cooperation within the region.

“We hope to fully implement the electronic exchange of the ACDD, conduct follow-up consultation with our stakeholders and officially launch the ACDD Portal in April 2022,” Geronimo said.

Since December 2020, the BOC has been working alongside the USAID ASEAN Policy Implementation Project in operationalizing the ASEAN Customs Declaration Document (ACDD) Operations Portal via the ASW to facilitate – and even increase – cross-border paperless trade during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Over at the country’s main gateway, the Manila International Airport (NAIA), Coll. Carmelita Talusan said they already made adjustments to prepare for the influx of more travelers with the easing of travel restrictions.

“BOC-NAIA has increased its manpower and added shifts in airports to better serve and cater to tourists, homebound OFWs, balikbayans and volume of passenger baggage,” Talusan said in a separate statement.

Likewise, manpower in warehouses also continue to operate 24/7 for air cargo concerns.

Earlier, the BOC-NAIA created the ONE STOP SHOP to cater to all time sensitive importations especially COVID-19-related importations.

“Furthermore, the Port also launched 2 Customer Care Centers (CCC), one in the main building and another located at CMEC for postal packages,” the official added.