Paperless scheme, key to improving efficiency at Customs

MANILA — Bureau of Customs (BOC) Commissioner Alberto Lina will enforce “paperless transaction” system that promotes ease of doing business with the government revenue agency.

Through Customs Memorandum Order 29-2015, the bureau would take concrete steps to eliminate unnecessary use of paper and expensive forms.

He also said that the project aims to achieve the twin objectives of curbing inefficiency and combating corruption through the steady phase-in implementation of a “paperless transaction”.

“Eliminating red tape and all the ills that go with it is an important step in improving the overall performance of Customs and in restoring the public’s confidence in the bureau,” Lina said.

The plan also includes electronic interchange of information with other government agencies such as the Bureau of Internal Revenue, the Philippine Statistics Office, the National Economic and Development Authority and the Tariff Commission.

Deputy Commissioner Agaton Uvero said the important components of the “paperless transaction” scheme included the discontinuance of the Import Entry and Internal Revenue Declaration (IEIRD) form and the Supplemental Declaration on Valuation (SDV) and the acceptance of print outs of the electronic Airway Bill (e-AWB).

“Our aim is to reduce documentation and paper costs by as much as 70%. We will achieve this by doing away with expensive carbonized forms and costly air way bill forms. We will also lessen the number of documents required from seven sets to two sets,” he said.

Uvero noted that the reduction would cover around 50,000 transactions a month.