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The Department of Information and Communications Technology has approved the Bureau of Customs’ proposed information systems strategic plan for 2024-2026
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The plan includes various systems aimed at advancing the agency’s digitalization and modernization program
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DICT last October approved BOC’s ISSP, which now “moves to the Department of Finance for final approval and budgetary allocation”
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Once approved for budgetary allocation, BOC will implement the plan in phases
The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) has approved the Bureau of Customs’ (BOC) proposed information systems strategic plan (ISSP) for 2024-2026, which include various systems aimed at advancing the agency’s digitalization and modernization program.
DICT last October approved BOC’s ISSP, which now “moves to the Department of Finance for final approval and budgetary allocation,” according to BOC Management Information Systems and Technology Group acting deputy commissioner Atty. Marlon Fritz Broto in a presentation during the recent 32nd Philippine Chamber of Customs Brokers, Inc. National Convention.
The ISSP is a three-year framework that serves as the roadmap for using ICT as a strategic resource to support BOC goals. The endorsed ISSP serves as basis for the Department of Budget and Management to grant a budget for implementation of ICT projects identified in the plan.
Once approved for budgetary allocation, BOC will implement the plan in phases, Broto added.
Projects under the ISSP with their target implementation are the following:
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BOC Resource Management System – 2024 to 2026
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Document Tracking System – 2025
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BOC Fraud Analytics – 2025
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Customs Clearance Permits and Licenses Processing Systems – 2025 to 2026
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Intelligent Customs Risk Management System – 2025 to 2026
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Enhancement of Computer-Aided Risk Management Solution – 2026
The projects will have a total cost of P5 billion, which Broto said will be funded through general appropriations and hopefully in part by the fund from BOC’s Super Green Lane facility, a program that provides expedited customs clearance for qualified importers.
Broto noted that “digital transformation using advanced ICT (information and communications technology) systems is central to the bureau’s vision to modernize and optimize customs operations.”
To date, the agency has digitalized 96.99% (161 out of 166) of its customs processes.
Broto, however, noted that “BOC faces a legal constraint that currently impedes the full enhancement and modernization of its systems.”
In 2015, Omniprime Marketing, Inc. and Intrasoft International Corp. filed a case against BOC officials for rescinding the bidding for the P650-million Integrated Enhanced Customs Processing System and the National Single Window (NSW) Phase 2.
READ: Preventive suspension of BOC chief sought over cancelled P650M IT project
The joint venture of Omniprime and Intrasoft was the project’s lone bidder shortlisted in December 2014 as eligible consultant. Broto said the project was placed on hold by then Customs commissioner Alberto Lina to re-evaluate its feasibility.
In August 2015, the Manila regional trial court (RTC) ruling favored Omniprime, ordering BOC to proceed with the procurement and prohibiting from initiating any other procurement to replace or upgrade the current BOC IT system.
The Supreme Court affirmed the RTC decision.
In 2020, the RTC ordered BOC to issue a notice to proceed to Omniprime, to which BOC in 2021 filed an appeal for through the Court of Appeals but it remains pending.
In 2021, BOC initiated the procurement for extended support and maintenance of its Electronic-to-Mobile (E2M) System, which Omniprime contested and the RTC in 2022 issued an order expanding its previous order to disallow any procurement related to the E2M System and other similar projects.
To challenge this, BOC filed a case with the Supreme Court in 2022 “seeking a resolution to this ongoing legal impasse that significantly hinders its ability to modernize its critical systems,” Broto said.
The case is still pending.
Broto noted that the ongoing case is also the reason why the Philippine Customs Modernization Project (PCMP), which was approved for loan by the World Bank in 2020, has been terminated this year. The case prevents a core component of the project, which was supposed to streamline and automate customs processes.
READ: BOC modernization project temporarily suspended
Broto said DICT’s approval of BOC’s ISSP “paves the way for continued modernization efforts even as the E2M legal challenges persist.”
In an interview with PortCalls at the sidelines of the event, Broto said he hopes the case will not affect the programs under the ISSP.
He added that projects and baselines under the PCMP were “migrated” to the ISSP.
Aside from the ISSP, BOC is also set to implement other ICT projects and aims to address slowdown in the E2M System by acquiring a duplicate server to decongest the current one. – Roumina Pablo
