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The Bureau of Customs is currently negotiating with the proponent of the unsolicited proposal for a new customs processing system, with implementation eyed by next year
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Customs commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno said part of negotiations is “trying to bargain down” the proposed fee for the use of the system
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The proponent proposed a P350 fee per transaction, but BOC has so far been able to get this down to P330
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The fee is per bill of lading, not based on the number of containers
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Once negotiation is successful, the proposal will undergo further vetting and submission to the Department of Finance for approval, after which the comparative challenge can start by June or July this year
The Bureau of Customs (BOC) is currently negotiating with the proponent of the unsolicited proposal for a new customs processing system (CPS) and eyes implementation by next year, according to Customs commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno.
Nepomuceno, in a media interview at the sidelines of the agency’s 124th founding anniversary celebration on February 12, said part of the negotiations is “trying to bargain down” the proposed fee for users of the system.
He said the proponent proposed a P350 fee per transaction, but BOC has so far been able to get this down to P330.
He clarified that the fee is per transaction or per bill of lading, not based on the number of containers.
Port users and stakeholders have earlier said they support the modernization of BOC through digitalization such as the proposed CPS, but asserted that its implementation should not result in higher fees or additional administrative burdens for port stakeholders.
READ: PUC, PHILEXPORT oppose fees under proposed customs processing system
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Nepomuceno said the negotiation stage also covers an evaluation of the proponents and their proposal.
“(W)e will have to make sure that the technical capabilities or capacities that are being promised will really be there,” he said.
A joint venture composed of ADR Holding Corp., Ascent Solutions Philippines, Inc., JAMC Holdings Corp., Omniprime Marketing, Inc., and Arcilla Margaroli Salazar Holding Inc. submitted the build-operate-transfer proposal for a CPS designed to streamline and automate customs procedures, ensuring efficient, transparent, and compliant trade facilitation.
The proposal was submitted as a public-private partnership (PPP) project with an estimated cost of P742.49 million. It will require a review by the BOC as the user and an approval of its mother agency, the Department of Finance (DOF).
The CPS will replace BOC’s existing Electronic-to-Mobile System, introduced in the early 2000s and is considered outdated.
Once negotiation is successful, it will undergo further vetting and submission to DOF for approval, after which the comparative challenge, wherein other firms will be invited to submit their own proposal and challenge the original proponent’s project, can start by June or July this year, Nepomuceno said.
Under PPP Code rules, the original proponent will have the right to match or better the financial proposal of the most superior comparative proposal. If the original proponent is able to match the proposal of the challenger or if there are no challengers during the comparative challenge period, the project will be awarded to the original proponent. Otherwise, the project will be awarded to the winning challenger.
Nepomuceno said pilot testing may be done in the first quarter of next year.
The CPS will eventually be integrated in phases into the system of 17 major ports and 39 subports across the country.
“So sometime next year mararamdaman yung (we should be able to feel the) changes using the CPS,” he said.
Nepomuceno also cited other ongoing modernization projects such as the use of more modern x-ray machines to improve inspection capabilities.— Roumina Pablo
