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The Bureau of Customs has released rules implementing the Free Trade Agreement Origin Management System
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Customs Memorandum Order No. 06-2025 provides procedures for the online application, submission and processing of the product evaluation report using the FTA Origin Management System and the PER Management System
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The PER is necessary to avail of preferential tariffs under the Philippines’ current free trade agreements
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The OMS is now available but eyed for official launch in December
The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has released rules implementing the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) Origin Management System (OMS), including the Product Evaluation Report (PER) Management System, in the Philippines.
The PER is necessary to avail of preferential tariffs under the Philippines’ current FTAs.
Customs Memorandum Order (CMO) No. 06-2025 contains procedures for the online application, submission and processing of PER in keeping with the respective operational certification procedures on rules of origin of Generalized System of Preferences (GSPs), and of FTAs using the FTA Origin Management System (OMS) and the PER Management System (PMS).
The OMS is a web-based system that digitalizes the entire process of managing basic information of exporting companies to the application and issuance of PER. The OMS is one of the major components of a project between the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology that aims to enhance the international competitiveness of Philippine micro, small, and medium enterprises; increase the utilization of existing Philippine FTAs and preferential trade arrangements; and reduce the time and costs of Philippine manufacturers and traders to comply with rules of origin requirements of FTAs and GSPs.
The OMS is now available (https://ftaorigin.dti.gov.ph/contents/main) but eyed for official launch in December, according to Francis Lopez, president of InterCommerce Network Services, Inc., the partner of Korea Trade Network (KTNET), the Korean government’s designated trade automation business service provider for the OMS.
The PMS is also a web-based platform integrated with the OMS and designed to automate the processing and approval of PER applications.
Exporters must first create an account in the OMS to be able to access the portal.
Under CMO 06-2026, the exporter or its authorized representative should apply for the PER through the OMS for an evaluation of goods to be exported with the intention of claiming preferential tariff treatment and submit electronically the documentary requirements in the English language.
The application process, including the review of the documents and conduct of plant visit, as may be necessary, should be completed within 20 working days from the submission of complete documents in the OMS. Such period may be extended consistent with Republic Act No. 11032 (Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018).
The prescribed period of processing for applications will be reviewed after one year from the issuance of CMO 06-2025.
The memo noted though that the exporter still has the option to submit the application manually under existing procedures.
DTI-Export Marketing Bureau (EMB) director Bianca Pearl Sykimte earlier said the OMS will hopefully facilitate the approval of the PER, a document that contains the results of the pre-evaluation of export products applying for certificate of origin.
The OMS will also be capable of integrating with the enterprise planning systems of businesses so they can just upload their data instead of separately encoding in the OMS.
KTNET earlier said the OMS can make the origin certification process faster and transparent, and help businesses and exporters utilize FTAs, thereby reducing costs as they can take advantage of preferential tariffs under such agreements.
Utilization of FTAs in Korea increased from 60% to 82% in 2023 when the FTA origin determination service called Korea FTA Plus was implemented.
KTNET said the Philippines will be the first country where the system will be implemented outside of South Korea, although similar systems are also being utilized around the world, especially in developed countries. – Roumina Pablo
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