BOC computerization seen to curb smuggling

MANILA, Philippines - Measures to combat smuggling in the country will get a new boost when the Bureau of Customs (BOC) rolls out a suite of software solutions under the P418-million Integrated Philippine Customs System (i-PCS) project.

BOC was among the government agencies that were singled out by President Aquino in his State of the Nation Address (SONA) before Congress early this week. The President pointed out that the agency repeatedly fell short of its collection targets, and has been unable to stop smuggling and corruption among its ranks.

In a post-SONA statement, Customs Commissioner Ruffy Biazon unveiled his renewed game plan to increase collections, stop smuggling, and curb corruption in the bureau. One of the main pillars of his reform agenda, he vowed, would be the “full computerization” of the bureau.

“With computerization, there will be no contact between the importer and customs employees. No paper work. Everything will be by computer. Aside from curbing corruption, transactions in the BOC will be quick. Fixers will be put out of business. And collections will increase,” he said.

Biazon supposedly filed his courtesy resignation immediately after the SONA, but was quickly declined by the President who reaffirmed his full confidence with the BOC chief in cleaning up the Bureau.

BOC’s computerization agenda includes implementing the i-PCS, which builds on the gains of the electronic-to-mobile (e2m) computerization project that has been operational since 2009.

The project will put in place mechanisms that will improve systems performance by taking out the dual system with an outdated legacy system (ASYCUDA++) under e2m while leveraging on current technologies. It will integrate all customs processes in a single environment replacing the current multi-system setup, and paving for much faster and efficient customs transactions.

New security features that will boost the bureau’s existing anti-smuggling programs will be put in place, including a petroleum inventory system that will accurately and efficiently monitor the movement and inventory of petroleum imports tracking up to the last liter, or barrel. Another feature is the integration of X-Ray imaging in the importer’s declaration that will make actual scanned images of each containerized shipment viewable to examiners.

Under the iPCS, the Bureau’s risk management mechanisms will be enhanced with the introduction of the Universal Risk Management (URM) system. Another software called GovernmentExecutiveVision© (GEV©) will provide a reporting tool that can be used for “data mining and customs business intelligence.”

Last June, after a bidding process which was strictly supervised by the BOC Special Bids and Awards Committee (SBAC) and pronounced by Biazon himself as thorough and transparent, the i-PCS project was awarded to the joint venture of Dubai-based Webb Fontaine and local firm Global Resource for Outsource Workers (Grow) Inc.

Said Pascal Minvielle, a Geneva-based executive of Webb Fontaine: “All of these, combined with political will of the agencies concerned, would definitely offer a great opportunity to fight smuggling in this country.”

“A case in point is how we helped Bahrain in significantly enhancing customs management after we developed and implemented similar system solutions,” Minvielle said. “This resulted in increased revenue collection and reduced port congestion.”

With i-PCS, Webb Fontaine will position the Philippines among countries in Europe, Middle East, and Africa whose customs agencies the company most recently automated, “in terms of world-class customs management that enable efficient revenue collection and secure trade facilitation.”