BOC to implement digitalization of ports Q1 2027

By Ferdinand Patinio, Philippine News Agency

Customs Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno (Bureau of Customs PH/facebook)

MANILA – The Bureau of Customs (BOC) is looking to implement the modernization of ports under the Customs Processing System (CPS) in the first quarter of 2027.

At the Kapihan ng Samahang Plaridel in Manila on Friday, Customs Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno noted that full digitalization of all ports would be piloted tested in several ports, particularly Manila International Container Port (MICP) and Port of Manila (POM).

“The full implementation in all ports should be integrated among themselves but it will also be integrated with the other agencies, such as Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Department of Agriculture (DA), among others,” he said.

“We will have a testing in MICP, POM and Cebu or Davao (ports),” the BOC chief added.

The BOC is in talks with the service provider, Singapore-based Crimson Logic, which is under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) and at no cost to the government.

“We are at the negotiation stage. The technical negotiation, you have to be sure that all the features will be delivered 100 percent automated,” Nepomuceno said.

The BOC has 56 ports nationwide, composed of 17 major ports and 39 subports.

The CPS aims to streamline import/export workflows, enhance data integrity, and reduce corruption vulnerabilities.