Customs modernization bill tagged as a Congress priority

November 10, 2014 at 11:14

“It has to make it before the ASEAN integration,” Mr. Quimbo added.

“Definitely, that is the objective,” said the lawmaker.

In a statement, Senate President Franklin M. Drilon confirmed the development, which came after leaders of both chambers held a joint Congressional meeting on Tuesday morning to harmonize legislative priorities.

Other measures earlier identified as urgent include the Bangsamoro Basic Law, the rationalization of fiscal incentives, and the proposed P2.606-trillion national budget for 2015 as the top priority, House Speaker Feliciano R. Belmonte, Jr. said via text.

Malacañang had earlier identified the CMTA as a priority measure of the administration.

The country’s Tariff and Customs Code was last amended in 1978. Among the planned upgrades for the BoC include the full electronic processing of all documents, forms, and receipts, alongside streamlining methods for the examination and valuation of imports and exports.

After a series of deliberations, the House panel had come up with a new draft of the CMTA. It was set to be approved by the committee last Oct. 21, but was held off pending additional comments from government agencies and business groups.

Despite the delay, Customs Deputy Commissioner Agaton T. Uvero said he remained confident that the measure will finally be enacted into law, which would support the BoC’s target to go fully paperless by 2015.

“We are still very hopeful of the bill being passed within the year. But even without the bill being passed, we are still looking at full automation by next year,” Mr. Uvero said in an interview, adding that the proposal would strengthen the BoC.

At present, the bureau has made online several processes, but remains to be “100% manual,” Mr. Uvero said.

The BoC has since been the subject of criticism, having been tagged as among the worst government agencies for consistently failing to meet their revenue targets and for allegedly corrupt practices.

The proposed bill presents “simplified” Customs procedures for disposition, forfeiture and seizure of counterfeit goods, and steeper penalties for illegal shipping practices.

“It legislates the need for putting everything online, which makes data available easily and makes data transparent to other agencies and even to the public,” said Mr. Uvero.

“It should prevent people from hiding illegal activities.”

Mr. Quimbo said he is eyeing to secure the final approval of the proposed measure by the House next month, with hopes to have the measure signed into law by yearend.

His Senate counterpart also assured urgent action on the measure.

“The committee has always considered it a priority, which is why we started hearings as early as last year,” Senate Committee on Ways and Means chairman Juan Edgardo M. Angara said in a text message.

“We are in close consultation with our house counterpart on this bill to ensure a smoother path,” said Mr. Angara.

“It would help a lot to have a Code that facilitates ease of doing business, and one that is attuned to modern business realities,” the lawmaker added.