Customs, PEZA ink data-sharing accord

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has signed an agreement with the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) for it to access the bureau’s Electronic Tracking of Containerized Cargo (E-TRACC) System.

In a statement released on Wednesday, the BOC said Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio and PEZA Director General Tereso Panga signed the data-sharing agreement on September 5, 2023.

The Customs said the agreement is set to revolutionize the efficiency and security of trade and economic zone operations in the Philippines as it streamlines data-sharing and cooperation between the two agencies.

Under the agreement, PEZA will gain access to BOC’s E-TRACC System data to enable real-time monitoring of containerized goods within and outside the country's economic zones.

“This partnership promises to enhance efficiency, transparency, and security in cargo transportation to and from these zones,” the BOC said.

The BOC said key provisions of the data-sharing accord focus on data privacy, security, storage, and retention of confidential information.

The E-TRACC System, introduced through Customs Memorandum Order No. 04-2020, has been instrumental in real-time monitoring of containerized goods’ inland movements, according to the bureau.

Both agencies committed to upholding data privacy laws and safeguarding confidential information.

Stringent measures will be in place to ensure that sensitive data is used solely for its intended purposes, according to the Customs. —VAL, GMA Integrated News