Category Archives: Latest News

BOC temporarily suspends the Automated Bonds Management System on transit shipments

Latest News Trade Policy & Procedures Simplification No Comments

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) temporarily suspends the Automated Bonds Management System (ABMS) implementation on transit shipments under CMO 30-2020  from 15 March 2021 up to 04 April 2021.

CMO 30-2020 applies to all Transit Bond Accounts opened under the electronic-to-mobile (E2M) Customs System in all Collection Districts, including sub-ports and other BOC offices.
This policy deferment was adopted to avoid further delays in the delivery of raw materials needed for export. The Value-Added Service Providers (VASPs) encountered system glitches wherein transit shipments bound for PEZA zones cannot be seen in the system to be tagged “ARRIVED” as it reaches the zone. Continue reading → BOC temporarily suspends the Automated Bonds Management System on transit shipments

ARTA mandates the on-boarding of 73 TRGAs to the TradeNet platform

Latest News Trade Policy & Procedures Simplification No Comments

The Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) directs the mandatory onboarding of the 73 Trade Regulatory Government Agencies (TRGAs) to the TradeNet through the issuance of Memorandum Circular (MC) 2021-01 last 05 March 2021.  TradeNet is an online platform that harmonizes all licenses and permits for imports and exports.

The MC provides specific guidelines and timelines for the onboarding of the TRGAs. The onboarding process must only take ten (10) weeks from the issuance of the said MC and receipt of the individual letter-request. ARTA assures that administrative sanctions will be filed on with non-compliant agencies. Continue reading → ARTA mandates the on-boarding of 73 TRGAs to the TradeNet platform

Philippine Airports Authority bill approved by House committees

Latest News Transport and Logistics No Comments

The House Committees on Transportation and Government Enterprises and Privatization have jointly approved the bill creating the Philippine Airports Authority (PAA). Said bill is still subject to change based on the written positions submitted by different agencies.

House Bill No. 7976, or the bill for the “Philippine Airports Authority Act” – sponsored by Rep. Eric Olivarez – will establish a corporate body under the jurisdiction of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) with the following functions:
­­ Continue reading → Philippine Airports Authority bill approved by House committees

Central Business Portal Rolled-out to boost PH Ease of Doing Business

Latest News Transport and Logistics No Comments

The Central Business Portal (CBP) was rolled out to boost the Philippines’ Ease of Doing Business. CBP is a one-stop-shop for all business-related transactions such as securing business permits, licenses, and clearances. This is one of the primary initiatives of the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and other government agencies.

CBP strengthens the commitment of ARTA in streamlining and automating government services. As ARTA Director-General Jeremiah Belgica reiterated in the recent PHILEXPORT General Membership Meeting (GMM), “…streamlining is crucial before automation to avoid running the risk of automating red-tape.”, with this, the portal is being developed in phases. Continue reading → Central Business Portal Rolled-out to boost PH Ease of Doing Business

Bicameral Committee passes the CREATE Act

Latest News Legislative Monitoring No Comments

The Bicameral Conference Committee has approved the reconciled version of House Bill No. 4157 and Senate Bill 1357 of the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises (CREATE)  Act on 01 February 2021. Both Houses had respectively settled the disagreeing provisions of the act.  The ratified final version is now ready for the signature of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.

The CREATE Act allows exporters and domestic industries to avail themselves between four (4) to seven (7) years of income tax holiday (ITH) and ten (10) years of special corporate income tax (SCIT). They may later pay the 5% gross income earned (GIE) for ten years.

Continue reading → Bicameral Committee passes the CREATE Act

Bureau of Customs accords the five years validity period of the Product Evaluation Report

Latest News Trade Policy & Procedures Simplification No Comments

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) accords the five years validity period of the Product Evaluation Report (PER) of exports conforming with the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA) and all the other Free Trade Agreements (FTAs).

This amended policy transpired after the exporters protested the issuance of AOCG Memo No. 67 2021 ‘Evaluation of Goods Applying for Certificate of Origin (CO)’ on 05 February 2021, which shortened the PER validity from five years to three years. BOC released a memorandum on 10 February 2021 in response to the exporter’s clamor to amend the said AOCG memo reverting the five-year validity period instead of three years.

Continue reading → Bureau of Customs accords the five years validity period of the Product Evaluation Report

Shorter free storage period proposed in PPA’s policy revision

Latest News Transport and Logistics No Comments

The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) has proposed revisions on their current rules on the commencement of the free storage period (FSP) and the start of the calculation of storage charges.

The proposal depicts shorter FSP for import cargoes, outbound-domestic cargoes, and cargoes entering any domestic port.

The existing five (5) day FSP rule for import cargoes starts after the last day that the last item of cargo is discharged from the vessel. While the proposal prescribes that FSP shall immediately commence on the actual day and time the import cargo is discharged from the ship.

Moreover, the current two (2) day FSP for the outbound-domestic cargo, which begins after the date of cargo entry, is proposed to start off immediately on the actual day and time the outbound domestic cargo is officially received at the port.

Continue reading → Shorter free storage period proposed in PPA’s policy revision

EDC sets new export targets amidst pandemic

Latest News PEDP No Comments

The Export Development Council (EDC) in its Joint Council and Executive Committee Meeting on 20 January 2021, adjusted the export targets in the Philippine Export Development Plan (PEDP) 2018-2022.  The new targets are US$91.7B in 2021 and US$105.3B in 2022.

The adjustments were recommended by the Export Marketing Bureau after a thorough review and simulation considering the world economic situation due to the COVID 19 pandemic, the assumptions of the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC)  and the data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).  Continue reading → EDC sets new export targets amidst pandemic

TIEZA promotes the online release of the Travel Tax Exemption Certificate

Latest News Others No Comments

The Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) promotes the online release of the  Travel Tax Exemption Certificate (TEC). This initiative makes it easier for the traveling exporter to get their TEC online.

Once TIEZA approves the online application, exporters can print the TEC at the convenience of their home or office.  The following requirements are to be observed by exporters in applying for the online release of TEC:

1. 2×2 ID Picture (taken within the last six months in JPEG format)
2. Passport Identification and Signature page
3. Airline Ticket or Confirmed Flight Booking
4. Endorsement from the EDC (Approved travel tax exemption application form)  Continue reading → TIEZA promotes the online release of the Travel Tax Exemption Certificate

BOC upholds strict implementation of its Online Release System  

Latest News Trade Policy & Procedures Simplification No Comments

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) upholds the strict implementation of the Online Release System (OLRs) effective on 11 January 2021. It requires the proper format of the registry number when filling out the export Single Administrative Document (SAD) in the Electronic-to-Mobile (E2M) system. Clerical errors due to incorrect registry numbers indicated in the export declaration is subjected to a PHP 5,000.00 fine as stipulated under AOCG Memo 25-2021 ‘Guidelines on the Wrong Encoding of Registry Numbers in the Export Declaration in the E2M System’ in accordance with CAO 1-2020.

The OLRS is used in processing imports and exports to ensure that duties and taxes were paid before goods were released outside the BOC Jurisdiction.
Continue reading → BOC upholds strict implementation of its Online Release System