APECO, Poro Point, John Hay added as certified agencies for BOC’s CPRS
Aerial view of the Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport. Photo from APECO
  • Three freeport management entities have been added to the list of accredited agencies for the Client Profile Registration System of the Bureau of Customs
  • These are: Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority, Poro Point Point Management Corp., and John Hay Management Corp.
  • Customs Memorandum Order No. 05-2026 included them in the requirement under CMO No. 19-2019
  • This means importers and exporters registered in these special economic zones will need an email notification from the corresponding authorities for the activation of their CPRS
  • Activation of the CPRS of entities accredited by other government agencies should be done by the district collector only after receiving the endorsement with attached requirements sent by the concerned government agency

Three freeport management entities – Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (APECO), Poro Point Management Corp. (PPMC), and John Hay Management Corp. (JHMC) – have been added to the list of accredited government agencies for the Client Profile Registration System (CPRS) of the Bureau of Customs (BOC).

This comes as Customs Memorandum Order (CMO) No. 05-2026 dated April 6 included them in the requirement under CMO No. 19-2019.

This means importers and exporters registered in these special economic zone will need an email notification from the corresponding authorities as a requirement for the activation of their CPRS.

The 19-2019 memo provides the guidelines and identified the functions and obligations of BOC offices where the renewal of the accreditation of customs brokers and the activation of CPRS of entities that were accredited by other government agencies have been transferred.

CMO No. 19-2019 follows a memorandum signed in April 2019 that decentralizes the renewal of accreditation of customs brokers and activation of CPRS for entities accredited by other government agencies from BOC’s Accounts Management Office to the district collectors.

The decentralization is pursuant to Republic Act No. 11032, or the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018.

Under CMO No. 19-2019, the requirement for the registration of importers and exporters accredited by other government agencies, entities, or offices will depend on the sector.

Other agencies

Agencies previously accredited include: Philippine Economic Zone Authority, Clark Development Corp., Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, Cagayan Economic Zone Authority, Authority of the Freeport of Bataan, and Zamboanga City Special Economic Zone Authority.

Exporters registered with the Tourism Infrastructure Enterprises Zone and Export Marketing Bureau also require an email notification, while exporters registered with the Board of Investments need an email notification and a certificate of good standing.

Requirements for other stakeholders remain the same:

  • Airlines – Civil Aeronautics Board email
  • Shipping lines – letter of endorsement from shipping agent, Maritime Industry Authority accreditation and valid permit to operate
  • Customs bonded warehouse operators – license to operate issued by BOC and endorsement from the deputy commissioner of the Assessment and Operations Coordinating Group.

Activation of the CPRS of entities accredited by other government agencies should be done by the district collector only after receiving the endorsement with attached requirements sent by the concerned government agency. The endorsement may be sent either through the government’s agency official email or official messenger or through a secured courier.

In a memorandum dated May 22, 2019, then Customs commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero ordered that renewal of the accreditation of customs brokers and the activation of the CPRS for entities accredited by other government agencies should be processed within 24 hours of receipt of complete documents.—Roumina Pablo

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