Customs to keep up improved accreditation process in 2021

The Bureau of Customs achieved a processing turnaround period of two to five days for accreditation applications in 2020. (Photo from the BOC Facebook account)

MANILA, Philippines — The Account Management Office (AMO) of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) will keep up the improvements it achieved in 2020 to ensure transparency and ease in processing the accreditation of importers and brokers.

The BOC said this in a statement posted on Facebook on Thursday, Jan. 21, in which it shared some of the AMO 2020 accomplishments in accreditation.

AMO implemented a processing turnaround of two to five working days, allowing more accreditations to be processed and promote “ease of doing business.”

Through its online processes, the office received 16,146 applications in 2020. It was able to accredit 14,995 regular importers and 2,165 licensed customs brokers.

To ensure the legitimacy of applications, the AMO also reported efforts to physically inspect the facilities and offices of aspiring importers. The office was thus able to avoid dummy accounts that could be used for smuggling and other illegal activities.

A total of 3,745 importers were inspected, 444 of which were found to be non-existent. Their applications were rejected.

Lastly, 575 importers and 148 customs brokers were revoked of their accreditation as they were found to have violated the provisions of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA). This was part of the office’s continuous monitoring and post evaluation of importers and brokers.

“AMO carries the momentum that it gained in 2020 as it continues to accredit importers and brokers in 2021,” the BOC statement said. “Through the implementation of BOC CCC and online systems, the office continues to provide expedient service while implementing BOC Commissioner Rey Leonardo B. Guerrero’s no-contact policy while promoting trade facilitation.”

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