Exporters, importers urged to avail of VASPs services

CEBU, Philippines - A value added service provider (VASP) is encouraging exporters and importers in the country to take advantage of VASPs in transacting business with government agencies such as the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA).

In a seminar sponsored by Security Bank at the Laguna Garden Café last week, former BOC commissioner Guillermo Parayno said VASP is a sunrise industry. VASPs assist exporters and importers in keeping up with the computerization of various government agencies.

In BOC’s website, the country’s BOC has adopted the system of customs administrators worldwide, which is partnering with the private sector in providing better secure and efficient services to the trading community through the operation of VASPs.

Partnering with VASPs helps Customs cope with the changes dictated by growing competition in international trade and increasing number of trade transactions in the country.

VASPs function as the frontline service provider of a customs agency—catering to the individual and specialized requirements of importers and exporters, “industry-by-industry, company-by-company, individual-by-individual.”

Parayno is also the president of eKonek Pilipinas, one of the Customs-accredited VASPs in the country. The company was born few months after the end in 1998 of Parayno’s term as Customs commissioner.

“He tapped some IT professionals who worked with him on the Automated Customs Operating System and the Automated System for Customs Data project to join him in the private sector and in the development and implementation of third party logistics systems,” according to a press statement.

The group embarked on e-governance system, the automated export documentation system (AEDS), which was piloted at the Cypress Semiconductor and at Maxim Electronic plants, both at the Gateway Business Park in Trece Martires Cavite. The system was adopted as an official export system pursuant to Export Development Council Resolution Number 1 dated August 16, 2002 as approved by the National Economic and Development Authority during the Joint Cabinet NEDA Board meeting on September 3, 2002 .

AEDS was also rolled out to the Mactan International Airport.

Other e-governance systems developed and implemented by eKonek include the Trade Automation and Facilitation System for the Subic Special Economic and Freeport Zone, the automated Import Permit system for PEZA and the automated cargo transfer system for the BOC-PEZA Transits.

The company recently started operating a new contact center, located at the second floor of Washington Tower in Parañaque City. The center is the company’s solution to the growing demand of its clients for on-line support and technical assistance.