BOC offices in 2 main ports remain open on weekends

MANILA, Philippines - The Bureau of Customs (BOC) offices in the country’s two main ports will remain open on weekends in an effort to decongest the two main ports in Manila.

Starting yesterday, operations would run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The BOC said they would be processing the documents of shipments pending for release at the Port of Manila (POM) and the Manila International Container Port (MICP), which have reportedly breached maximum port utilization levels.

With this set-up, brokers and importers can file import entries even during weekends, have their importations assessed and valuated and secure clearance for the release of the cargo.

Personnel from the BOC’s Import Assessment Services would also be at their posts on weekends to address valuation concerns.

Additional examiners will be deployed, along with stand-by personnel complement from X-ray inspection, to expedite the release of cargo with paid customs duties and taxes.

The BOC said this arrangement would be in effect indefinitely.

The district collectors of the POM and the MICP are also working with private port operators Asian Terminals, Inc. and the International Container Terminal Services, Inc. to identify consignees that have shipments cleared for release but are still inside the ports. These container vans unnecessarily add to the congestion at the Manila ports, the BOC said.

Aside from the extended operating hours of the two BOC ports in Manila, they would also extend operations at ports and sub-ports handling shipments of locators of the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., seven days a week as directed by the Department of Finance.

Ports and sub-ports that would also extend working hours to handle PEZA-locator shipments include the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, POM, MICP, as well as BOC sub-ports in economic zones in Cavite, Laguna and others in the Calabarzon area.

Selected branches of Land Bank of the Philippines located within the BOC premises would also be open during weekends. – Zinnia dela Peña