MANILA: The Bureau of Customs (BOC) is looking to simplify the process of goods transfer between Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) locators and Ecozone Logistics Service Enterprise facilities by defining its personnel’s role in the process.
BOC issued Customs Memorandum Order 40-2015, which specifies the role of customs to ensure adequate security for the goods being transferred.
The order guarantees that only duly approved goods are withdrawn/transferred; goods that may have diverted from the intended destination can be identified; and intended transfer is successfully delivered at the approved destination.
BOC said that customs employees assigned in PEZA will be limited to the approval of General Transportation and Surety Bond (GTSB) and selective examination of goods covered by the electronic zone transfer of document or e-ZTD.
Customs personnel will also focus on supporting tracking transfer; supporting initiation at the earliest possible recovery operation for divided transfer and certification of GTSB; and supporting the spot-checking of destination warehouse.
According to BOC deputy commissioner Agaton Uvero, the implementation of the Electronic Zone Transfer System (e-ZTS) in July promoted transparency and facilitated transactions among PEZA locators and will further reduce the cost of doing business for the exporters.
“The eZTS will also allow both Customs and PEZA authorities to monitor, in real-time, the transfer and movement of tax-and-duty free goods among the ecozones, thereby reducing the possibility of illegal transfers and withdrawals of goods into the domestic market,” he said.
