Makati city: Bureau of Customs (BOC) Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno emphasized the urgent need to accelerate digitalization within the agency to effectively combat smuggling.

According to Philippines News Agency, Nepomuceno discussed this initiative during the Federation of Philippine Industries Inc. Business Summit. A private entity has brought forth a proposal to the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center aimed at modernizing the taxation of imports and transactions. Although specific details about the proponents or the measure were not disclosed, the proposal includes a fixed fee of PHP350 per transaction, regardless of the number of container vans involved.

Nepomuceno stressed the necessity for the proposed system to be entirely digital to prevent smuggling effectively. He stated, “We will really have to get back to digitalization. That’s the main component to make sure smuggling won’t happen.”

The implementation of this digitalization program is expected to take place within the next one to one-and-a-half years. This initiative is part of BOC’s strategy to meet its revenue target for the year, which is set at PHP939.6 billion. As of August, the agency has collected PHP621.4 billion.

Nepomuceno also noted that the import ban on rice, effective since September 1, has adversely affected their collections, costing the agency approximately PHP2 billion to PHP3 billion per month.