A sub-port of the Port of Davao recently activated its own customer care center (CCC) to facilitate online Customs transactions in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Sub-port of Dadiangas located in Makar Wharf in Barangay Labangal, General Santos City opened its Customs transactions hub on October 21. It was the first sub-port to open such a facility among the 39 sub-ports nationwide.

According to Port of Davao District Collector Erastus Sandino Austria, the CCC features online submission of documents “allowing them to transact with us from the comfort of their homes or offices by using any web connected electronic device.”

Sub-port Collector Elenita Abaño, on the other hand, emphasized the benefits of CCC as it also establishes better health and safety protocols for the stakeholders and personnel.

The facility, like those established in major ports under the Bureau of Customs in the country, serves as a one-stop shop for filing of goods declarations, receiving and releasing of documents, payment of customs duties and taxes, and other customs-related inquiries and transactions.

“We prioritize the welfare of our employees and our stakeholders by discouraging office visitations and encouraging online transactions,” Abaño said.

The official furthered that this plan of the government to automate procedures is pursuant to the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2019 and Administrative Order No. 23 or Eliminating Overregulation to Promote Efficiency of Government Processes.

To date, 13 of the 17 ports under the Customs bureau have already activated their respective customer care centers to lessen face-to-face transactions between personnel and stakeholders that aim to curb systemic corruption.

These are the ports of Manila, Legaspi, Surigao, Batangas, Subic, Clark, Zamboanga, Davao, Limay, San Fernando, Iloilo, Tacloban, and Cebu.