BOC modernization, enhanced trade facilitation rank Philippines 2nd-best in ASEAN region

The Bureau of Customs (BOC)’s progress in modernizing customs administration and enhancing trade facilitation under the leadership of Finance Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno has driven the Philippines to rank second-best among Southeast Asian (ASEAN) nations in the 2023 United Nations Global Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation. 

The Survey, jointly conducted by various UN bodies, covers over 160 economies around the globe and 60 digital and sustainable trade facilitation measures to help countries benchmark and reduce the time and cost of trading across borders. 

The Philippines moved up from the third spot in 2021, scoring 87.10 percent in the 2023 survey. 

“This impressive achievement underscores Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio and his team’s relentless commitment to transforming the BOC into a world-class customs agency. The BOC has never been as sophisticated and modern as before because of new initiatives under the Marcos, Jr. administration,” Secretary Diokno said. 

The BOC has so far digitalized 160 out of 166 customs processes, garnering a 96.39-percent digitalization rate. 

There is currently one system launched for operation, two systems ready for implementation, and three systems being developed for efficient customs services. 

On November 21, 2023, the BOC unveiled the e-Travel System, which is a single platform available in the eGoV application that will provide passengers and crew members the convenience of the electronic submission of their baggage declaration form prior to their arrival and departure. 

It will optimize border control, enhance health surveillance, and facilitate economic data analysis. 

The project was a joint effort with the Bureau of Immigration (BI), the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC), and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT). 

Meanwhile, the BOC’s Automated Export Declaration System (AEDS) and Customs Auction Monitoring System (e-Auction System) are now ready for implementation. 

The AEDS facilitates the electronic submission or transmission of all authorized export declaration-single administrative documents lodged electronically by registered exporters to the BOC through BOC-accredited value-added service providers. 

The e-Auction System enables users across all ports to manage online registration and bidding activities through a web portal. 

On the other hand, the systems under development include the e-Service Catalog System, the Document Management System (DMS), and the Over Staying Container Tracking System (OSTracker). 

The e-Service Catalog System is an internal online application system designed for the General Services Division to streamline the provision of goods and essential services to various ports and groups. 

The DMS captures, tracks, and stores electronic documents like PDFs and word processing files. 

The OSTracker is a monitoring system that provides updated data on the disposition activities such as auctions, condemnation, donation, etc. of all ports. Its pilot implementation started on October 25, 2023.