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More electronics exports processed through automated system - NSO data


By MARICEL E. ESTAVILLO, BusinessWorld Reporter More exports documents of semiconductor and electronics firms passed through the government’s automated system last year, facilitating quicker reporting of export data. At least $7.9 billion out of the $39.6 billion worth of total exports recorded last year has been processed by an inter-agency automation system, a pioneering effort to get rid of manual transactions in the government. Last year’s automated exports figure is a jump from the almost insignificant $738 million out of the $36.2 billion worth of total exports processed in 2003, according to the data culled by BusinessWorld from the National Statistics Office (NSO). The export automation system covering three government agencies, the Bureau of Customs (BoC), the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) and the NSO, is delivered through a private sector-led initiative called the Automated Export Documentation System (AEDS). Bankrolled by industry group Semiconductors and Electronics Industries in the Philippines, Inc. (SEIPI) in June 2002, AEDS is an electronic system designed for faster and easier transactions of exports data between the BoC and exporters inside the PEZA economic zones. An automated systems allows quicker reporting of export transactions of the country’s main export driver -- the semiconductor and electronics industry. Aside from the benefits of convenience and savings, AEDS is intalled to guard against smuggling in the BoC, according to the memorandum of agreement (MoA) signed by the participating parties in 2002. To date, over 30 semiconductor and electronics companies are using the system from the four pioneer companies back in 2002. AEDS only covers semiconductor and electronic export shipments from ecozones loaded at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). The NSO data show exports value processed through AEDS is increasing over time. In 2004, the number of exports declarations processed by the system is 147,562 documents out of the 853,196 total documents recorded by NSO, an increase from 35,375 AEDS-processed documents out of the total 887,294 exports documents recorded in 2003. In January 2003, AEDS processed only 2,091 export declarations or $42 million worth of exports. In January 2005, the number increased to 4,728 documents, equivalent to $154 million worth of exports. The AEDS exports load reached its historic peak in October last year, processing over $1 billion worth of exports from 16,459 export declarations out of the 69,070 documents or $3.7 billion worth of exports. Using the AEDS, exports declarations of a company are being converted into electronic message, paving for a paperless transaction, and allowing both BoC and NSO to record in real time the export transactions. The electronic system also automates the issuance of permits, licenses, and is capable of accepting online payments of export-related transactions. AEDS made news in mid-2004 after the NSO failed to include exports volume processed through AEDS in its exports accounting for full-year 2003. NSO corrected its data in April last year and added $738.021 million worth of electronics exports on top of the the announced $35.473 billion total Philippine exports for 2003. Delayed transmission to the NSO databank of electronics exports from a newly-installed electronic system inside the BoC caused the shortfall, said NSO administrator Carmelita N. Ericta in an earlier interview. BoC failed to inform and transmit the AEDS data to NSO in time for the NSO’s quarterly and annual release of the country’s trade statistics. The NSO was releasing trade statistics for last year’s period without the AEDS export figure. A supposedly real-time transaction, the NSO found out about AEDS only in November last year. BoC deputy commissioner and head of the Management Information Systems and Technology Group (MISTG) Alexander M. Arevalo described the incident as a birth pain, which both agencies need to go through, in implementing a new procedure and system such as the AEDS. All exports processed through AEDS in 2004 have already been included in the total year-end exports data. - BusinessWorld
Tags: nso, electronics