THE BUREAU of Customs (BoC) has released the implementing rules and regulations governing the electronic filing of shipping data, expediting the release of “legitimate cargoes” as called for by the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA).
Customs Commissioner Isidro S. Lapeña signed on May 7 Customs Memorandum Order (CMO) 6-2018 requiring the electronic submission of the carriers’ advance manifest, bill of lading, commercial invoice, packing list, stowage plan, container discharging list, load port survey report, and supplemental cargo manifest to the Bureau’s Advanced Manifest System.
It also contains a “detailed list” of cargo on board the vessel or aircraft including information on the goods such as transport document numbers, consignors, consignees, marks and numbers, number and kind of packages, weight, description, quantity of the goods, and the destination.
Advanced manifests help the BoC “track and trace the movement of cargoes from the port of origin and evaluate the nature and degree of risk of incoming shipments” faster due to the shift to an electronic platform.
“The new guidelines on cargo manifest will allow a qualified importer to process in advance the goods declaration prior to the arrival of the shipment and pre-assess the customs duties, taxes, and other charges as well as other needed documentary requirements,” Mr. Lapeña said in a statement.
“More so, the cargo information will be used to profile the risk of cargoes while increasing the efficiency of the clearance process of low-risk shipments. Thus, the release of legitimated cargoes will be expedited,” he added.
Vessels must submit the manifest and other related data to the BoC within 24 hours before arrival at the port of transit for vessels with a transit time of at least 72 hours, and 12 hours for those with transit times less than that.
For aircraft, the manifest must be filed one hour before the arrival of the aircraft departing from an Asian airport, and four hours prior for those originating outside Asia.
The Customs bureau is currently implementing the CMTA, by which it hopes to facilitate trade, cut red tape and corruption, and improve the delivery of BoC-related services in line with international best practices.
The law, or Republic Act 10863, was signed on May 30, 2016 by President Benigno S.C. Aquino III.
According to the BoC website, eight CMTA implementing rules and regulations have been issued. — Elijah Joseph C. Tubayan
