Government website cuts costs, time for doing business

MANILA, Philippines –  Importers and exporters can now enjoy faster, better and reliable public service through the implementation of the government’s National Single Window (NSW) which aims to reduce the cost and the time for doing business.

The NSW is an Internet-based system that allows traders to lodge information and documents with a single entry point to fulfill all import, export and transit-related regulatory requirements.

Business transactions can now be performed anytime and anywhere via Internet and mobile phone.   The traders can now transact at the convenience of their own home or office. The use of the NSW system is free of charge, though the trader still needs to pay the usual processing fee currently mandated by respective government agencies.

“The NSW is not just a modernization project. The success of this lies on the political will of each agency. This is not a sole project of the Bureau of Customs but a national project of the government,” Deputy Customs Commissioner Alexander Arevalo said.

Interesting features of NSW include electronic submission of more than 70 application forms for cargo import and export permits and clearances of the 30 government agencies in one website. It also shows transparency of transactions in the NSW dashboard where anyone can view the status of the application. Security of submitted data is also enabled using digital signatures. Electronic attachments of supporting documents and electronic payment will soon be available in the NSW system.

The Philippine National Single Window is based on the Crown Agents’ TRIPS Single Window product. The configuration of the product was started in November 2009 to meet Philippine requirements. Within six months, it is now operational in the 30 permit-issuing and 10 permit-monitoring government agencies.

 With the full implementation of NSW, the BOC will mandate that only cargo import/ export permits and clearances in electronic form via the NSW system will be accepted. All cargo paper permits and clearances will be phased out by the first quarter of 2011.

The NSW website is now operational and contains all the information for easier and faster business transactions. To know more, visit www.nsw.gov.ph.