BOC launches 6 IT systems to cut red tape, eliminate corruption

Bureau of Customs. (File photo from Philippine Daily Inquirer)

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Customs (BOC) on Monday launched six modern information systems aimed at making transactions with the country’s second biggest revenue agency simpler and seamless in order to reduce red tape and ultimately eliminate corruption.

According to BOC, these computer systems form part of Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo B. Guerrero’s 10-point priority program for 2019, which included enhancement of the agency’s information technology (IT) system and cargo clearance processes.

Among the new IT systems unveiled was the BOC Customer Care Portal, an issue ticketing system that will “provide answers to inquiries and concerns submitted by stakeholders.”

Also launched was the Document Tracking System (DTS), which allows users to track documents being processed by BOC offices.

The Goods Declaration Verification System (GDVS), meanwhile, was a “queue management system that allows stakeholders to get real-time updates on the status of their goods declaration,” BOC said.

As for the National Value Verification System (NVVS), BOC said it will serve as “a guide for assessment personnel to determine the accuracy of the declared value of goods” in order to collect the correct import duties and other taxes due from traders.

To promote transparency, BOC also launched the Alert Order Monitoring System (AOMS), through which the status of alert orders and alerted shipments can be tracked, allowing monitoring of an alert status starting from issuance until when it was resolved.

BOC Dashboard was also introduced to “provide real-time updates about BOC operations and a comprehensive view of what is happening in all the ports nationwide,” the agency said.

Guerrero told reporters after the launch that these systems were piloted two months ago, and will be implemented nationwide starting June 17.

According to Guerrero, BOC spent only less than P10 million to rollout these IT systems as it tapped in-house talent and equipment.

Full-scale modernization will eventually be funded by a loan from the World Bank, the BOC chief said.

BOC plans to shift to a fully automated customs processing system from the present electronic to mobile (E2M) system, as required under the proposed $150-million World Bank loan.