TWO business groups on Wednesday commended the Bureau of Customs’ (BOC) approval of an administrative order extending the accreditation validity of importers and customs brokers to three years with reduced fees.
The BOC is an attached agency of the Department of Finance (DOF).
“By extending accreditation validity and reducing total fees, the DOF reinforces the Philippines’ attractiveness as an investment destination,” the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) said in a statement.
The ECCP’s nearly 1,000 member firms range from small-to-medium enterprises to large corporations.
In the new guideline — which is part of BOC’s measures to cut red tape in doing business — importer accreditation will now be valid for three years instead of the previous one-year cycle, eliminating the need for annual renewals, repetitious document submissions and compliance checks.
The three-year validity also reduces fees. Instead of paying P2,000 annually — or P6,000 over three years — importers will pay only a one-time fee of P5,000 for the entire three-year period.
“This development helps reduce administrative barriers, allowing our local industries to focus on economic productivity. We commend this decisive step toward a more competitive, transparent and efficient trade environment that aligns perfectly with the national goal of sustainable economic growth,” the ECCP said.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc. (Philexport) also recognized the importance of the measure.
“Philexport supports this reform, consistent with our thrust toward easing the flow and cost of doing business,” Philexport President Sergio Ortiz-Luis Jr. told The Manila Times, but pointed out the need to discuss details since BOC has authorized the group to handle the Client Profile Registration System (CPRS).
The CPRS is an automated process of registration and renewal of all BOC stakeholders, including exporters, supervised by BOC accrediting offices.
Philexport is among the accrediting offices as mandated by Customs Memorandum Order 39-2008.
“We would like to [see] whether the validity of the exporter accreditation should also be [studied],” Ortiz-Luis said, adding that his group will meet with the BOC within this month.
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