The entire 2020 10-point priority program of the Bureau of Customs, including its goal to full automation of transactions, has been completed to the extent of 88.88 percent, the bureau reported on Wednesday.
The long-term priority programs includes the full automation of frontline transactions, improvement of risk management system, implementation of customs modernization program, ISO certification of customs offices and PGS compliance, enhancement of trade facilitation, rationalization of penalty regime, filling-up of vacant plantilla positions, enhancement of management and technical skills, enhancement of stakeholder engagement and intensification of border protection.
This set of programs is in line with the agency’s mission to strengthen the country’s border protection, enhance trade facilitation and improve revenue collection.
Under the full automation of frontline transactions, the Customs bureau has implemented the upgrade and stabilization project for the E2M system, online payment through PayMaya and online submission of documents through the Customer Care Portal System.
Under the improvement of risk management system, the bureau said it also conducted the roll out of the universal risk management system, the enhancement of the selectivity system and the implementation of the cargo targeting system.
“Both priority programs achieved an accomplishment rate of 100 percent with three other programs higher than 90percent. Among these programs is the enhancement of stakeholder engagement that recorded an accomplishment rate of 99.98 percent in December 2020 pending completion of the customer care center at the Manila International Container Port. This center was inaugurated last January 18.
“This was followed by the enhancement of management and technical skills with an accomplishment rate of 93.50 percent and the enhancement of trade facilitation. This program involves the adoption of WCO Mercator Programme Recommendations, implementation of Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) Programme and the improvement of processes on Advance Ruling (AR) and Provisional Goods Declaration (PGD). In all, these programs generated an accomplishment rate of 91.38 percent,” it added.
The remaining priority programs such as rationalization of penalty regime and filling-up of Customs plantilla positions gained an accomplishment of 89.70 percent and 86.20 percent, respectively.
With the establishment of the Customs Operations Center, full implementation of Fuel Marking Program, strengthening of Customs Water Patrol Division and conduct of technical and capability trainings on water patrol operations, the bureau recorded an 85.33 percent accomplishment rate under the priority program intensification of border protection.
The bureau generated an 83.64 percent accomplishment rate under the ISO Certification of Customs Offices & PGS Compliance with the ISO certification of Sub-port of Dumaguete and the Port of Manila Customer Care Center, re-certification of the Port of Batangas and progress on other offices, achievement of the PGS compliant status and continuous preparation of Sub-port of Mactan for its ISO Certification.
“Building on these gains, the BOC will be launching the 2021 10-Point Priority Program which will ride on the momentum of the initiatives and innovations of 2020 to help the bureau achieve not only its targets but also accomplish its mission gearing towards a customs administration that is at par with global standards,” Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero said.