The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has ordered all value-added service providers (VASPs) to transmit electronic inward foreign manifests (IFM) to the Department of Agriculture (DA) and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
In a memorandum dated April 29, 2014 but signed by Customs Commissioner John Phillip Sevilla on May 5, VASPs Cargo Data Exchange Center, InterCommerce Network Services and E-Konek Pilipinas were required to simultaneously transmit e-manifests received from shipping lines, airlines and freight forwarders to the BOC, DA and DTI.
The directive takes effect immediately and is in line with the data-sharing agreement on inward foreign manifest data among the three government agencies, Sevilla said.
BOC’s Management Information Systems and Technology Group will coordinate with VASPs, DA, and DTI in setting up facilities required for the transmission and reception of the IFM.
The memo required VASPs to provide a full-time help desk support for issues regarding the manifests.
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