Customs digitalization 96% complete

May 14, 2023 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Customs (BOC) continues to ramp up its digitalization efforts to enhance trade facilitation, with 96 percent of its processes now computerized.

Customs chief Bienvenido Rubio recently met with the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines to discuss various trade concerns.

During the meeting, Rubio said 96.39 percent of customs processes had already been digitalized.

This is an improvement from the end-2022 digitalization rate of 91 percent.

“This has expedited the processing of shipments while simplifying and securing the facilitation of trade,” Rubio said.

Currently, the World Bank is supporting the digitalization of the BOC through an $88.28 million financing for the Philippine Customs Modernization Program.

BOC has been pushing for its digitalization efforts until it achieves a fully-automated customs procedure.

Doing so would make international trade transactions more efficient and transparent while improving regulatory compliance.

Apart from digitalization, Rubio tackled with AmCham the agency’s five-point priority program which aims to improve efficiency, upgrade systems and processes, and promote integrity and professionalism.

BOC and AmCham likewise discussed border control and security measures, as well as concerns to ensure that goods entering and exiting the country are compliant and secure.