THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) is encouraging stakeholders to use online systems during the implementation of the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon.
The BOC said in a statement yesterday it issued Customs Memorandum Order (CMO) No. 08-2020 which provides the guidelines on the implementation of zero contact policy at BOC’s assessment offices.
The order applies to all clients dealing with BOC such as licensed customs brokers, declarants, importers, customs broker’s representatives, and other stakeholders which covers the processing of goods declaration filed with the assessment offices, stakeholder engagement meetings, and other events and activities.
Under the CMO, documents to be filed with the bureau must be submitted in hard and electronic portable document format (PDF). Only PDF file type shall be accepted for electronic copies and each document must be submitted as a separate file.
The hardcopy of the goods declaration and the corresponding attachments may be submitted to the Customer Care Center (CCC), or Entry Processing Unit or equivalent unit if CCC is not yet operational at the concerned port.
Soft copies of the scanned documents, on the other hand, may be submitted either thru the Customer Care Portal System (CCPS) or in an external drive (e.g. USB flash drive) to be delivered with the hard copy.
Stakeholders may verify the status of their goods declaration at any time using the Goods Declaration Verification System links or thru the CCPS by opening a ticket and providing the goods declaration reference no., consignee name, and other importation details as required.
Meanwhile, in a separate statement, the BOC said its port at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport has organized a one-stop-shop to attend to all concerns on personal protective equipment (PPE) importations.
The one-stop-shop aims to assist stakeholders by expediting the release of imported relief goods, articles, equipment, and medical supplies intended as donations and attend to all inquiries and concerns related to the importation of PPEs and emergency goods.
The one-stop-shop will also be responsible for coordinating with other government agencies in processing the said donated items.
