The Department of Finance (DOF) said the Bureau of Customs will soon be linked to the Landbank of the Philippines' online payment facility to streamline transaction payments.
Finance Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno said the Customs bureau and Landbank are set to sign a memorandum of agreement for the implementation of Link.BizPortal.
“This online payment system is designed for the online collection of payments on behalf of public and private organizations and sectors, allowing the payor of miscellaneous payments to pay digitally,” Diokno said.
Link.BizPortal is an alternative payment channel offering clients the convenience and efficiency of paying for products and services online, ensuring safer and faster delivery of funds while reducing costs associated with physical cash or in-kind goods distribution.
Additionally, it establishes accountability and tracking of financial flows, leading to reduced corruption and theft, and helps alleviate lobby traffic congestion while saving on operational expenses.
One of the key features of Link.BizPortal is its ability to process payments of both small and large values.
It also generates and provides online payment confirmations, which can be printed or sent via email as needed.
Moreover, the platform is accessible seven days a week, including holidays, with the exception of scheduled system maintenance periods.
In addition to Link.BizPortal, Diokno said the Customs bureau will soon introduce the Digitalized Official Receipt System (DORS), which provides stakeholders and the general public with digitized official receipts.
Diokno said DORS also includes a dashboard facility for real-time display of transactions, payments, collection systems, accounting, monitoring, and biometrics registration.
Furthermore, the finance chief stated that Customs will automate the Export Declaration System.
This system enables the electronic transmission of authorized Export Declaration-Single Administrative Documents from Economic Zones, Freeport Processing Zones, and Investment Promotion Agencies, Diokno said.
"Together, these initiatives will boost our efforts to modernize and streamline customs processes,” Diokno said.
To date, the bureau has successfully achieved a 96.4 percent digitalization rate for 160 out of 166 customs procedures outlined in the 2021 Citizen's Charter.
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