From 5 days to 5 hours: BOC to ease processing

MANILA, Philippines - From five days to five hours.

It may seem too good to be true, but Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon aims to reduce the time for processing and releasing imported shipments from five days to five working hours.

He told Bureau of Customs (BOC) employees that he intends to meet with government agencies issuing import permits to come up with a system to hasten the release of shipments and prevent the repeat of another port congestion.

The former Marine captain attributed the incomplete document requirements submitted to the BOC as one of the causes for the late release of shipments.

Faeldon said he would coordinate with other government agencies issuing import permits, like the National Food Authority, to clarify the process and request that before issuing an import permit, they make sure all requirements needed by the importer are ready.

“There are many agencies that issue permits but they failed to complete all the requirements to clear these commodities, that is why there are thousands of stored containers still here at the port,” he said.

Faeldon said that about three hectares of a port in Manila are already filled with containers that have yet to be released.

Speeding up the release of imported cargo would also be advantageous to the consignee, he added.

Faeldon said “we will solve many things” by facilitating the immediate release of these shipments.

“We would let these traders avoid losing money, and it will avoid congestion at the pier,” he said.

The Federation of Philippine Industries has reportedly expressed its full support for Faeldon, particularly in his anti- smuggling campaign.

“We stand ready to help Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon in this important task of defeating smuggling,” the FPI said.

The FPI is comprised of 34 industry associations, 96 manufacturing corporations and 22 manufacturing-allied companies.