Import procedures streamlined

The government will launch today a system that seeks to cut clearance time and hasten the release of imports. Alexander M. Arevalo, Customs deputy commissioner for management information systems, said in a phone interview on Monday the system would be ready for use initially by 10 agencies that issue import permits. The 10 agencies are the Board of Investments, Bureau of Animal Industry, Bureau of Customs, Bureau of Food and Drugs, Bureau of Internal Revenue, Bureau of Plant Industry, Bureau of Product Standards, National Food Authority, Philippine Economic Zone Authority and the Sugar Regulatory Administration. These agencies account for almost three-quarters of import permits. Arevalo clarified that it would be a "soft launch" since the agencies still have to issue their rules enforcing the new system. "By mid-2010, this should be operational for all agencies," he added. Thirty more agencies need to be linked up to the project. Under the national single-window scheme, the release of import permits are supposed to be faster since importers can file their applications online. An importer must register with the system online and print out the bar code that will be issued by an agency. This bar code should be submitted with other supporting documents to the agency in applying for the import permit. The permit, Arevalo said, would be processed by the agency and submitted to the Customs bureau. The system, he said, makes the processing of import permits more efficient and cuts down the time before cargoes are released. Under the old system, Customs waits for the permit to be presented by the importer even as the goods have arrived. The whole process — from permit application to release of goods — could take three days to three weeks. Arevalo said the project is part of the goal of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to harmonize Customs procedures and release import permits within 30 minutes from their filing. — Louella D. Desiderio, BusinessWorld