PEZA seeks firmer BoC trade facilitation

The Philippine Economic Zone Authority has reached out to the Bureau of Customs to strengthen its ties in its efforts to enhance trade facilitation and logistics efficiency in the economic zones.

"PEZA is one with the BoC and other participants in the local supply and global value chains in enhancing the ecozone business ecosystem and our overall competitiveness to make the Philippines a viable investment destination in the region," said OIC and deputy director general for Policy and Planning Tereso Panga.

Panga and his team recently met with acting BoC Commissioner Yogi Ruiz and Customs collectors assigned in the PEZA zones to build on the agencies' partnership in terms of increasing logistics efficiency and supply chain management and other measures for continual improvement.

Among the various pressing concerns discussed include the utilization of General Transport Surety Bonds for ecozone importations and Interzone transfer of goods between PEZA-registered enterprises and the adoption of a selective and risk-based approach for shipments to be covered by electronic tracking using e-seal under the Electronic Tracking of Containerized Cargo.

Also, the two parties tackled the integration of PEZA Electronic Import Permit System and Automated Export Documentation System to the BoC Electronic-to-Mobile system for increased security and transparency in the processing and monitoring of import and export permits/documents; and the basis of computation of tax and duties on the disposal of enterprises' assets pursuant to the CREATE Act.

Panga said that over the years, PEZA had introduced the electronic import permit and automated export documentation system for ecozone locators, while thereafter, BoC pursued the "National Single Window" — a computerized internet-based system that allows parties involved in trade to lodge information and documents with a single-entry point to fulfill all import, export, and transit-related regulatory requirements.

"It is important to strengthen the partnership between PEZA and BoC, given their respective roles in investment and trade facilitation that are being improved towards digital transformation," said the PEZA OIC.