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Customs Uni-Pass International Agency is proposing to establish a dedicated e-commerce processing system for the Bureau of Customs
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The proposal aligns with the technical, procedural, and governance requirements of BOC and is ready for immediate deployment, the international arm of the Korea Customs Service said
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The model provides accurate visibility into trade patterns and revenue exposure under the de minimis regime, CUPIA said
Customs Uni-Pass International Agency (CUPIA) is proposing to establish a dedicated e-commerce processing system for the Bureau of Customs (BOC) .
The proposal aligns with BOC’s technical, procedural, and governance requirements, and is ready for immediate deployment, CUPIA, the international arm of the Korea Customs Service, said in a statement. Submitted on January 19, the proposal establishes a “clear path from policy mandate to operational implementation,” CUPIA noted.
Established in 2006, the South Korea-based CUPIA is a non-profit organization that manages the deployment of UNI-PASS, one of the world’s most established customs automation platforms.
The UNI-PASS platform currently operates across multiple jurisdictions in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, with several implementations formally recognized by the World Customs Organization.
“Cross-border e-commerce now constitutes a permanent and growing component of international trade,” CUPIA noted. “In the Philippines, millions of low-value parcels enter the country each year through express couriers, postal operators, and logistics platforms. This volume reshapes border operations and directly affects customs control, revenue protection, and trade facilitation.”
Moreover, with the continued expansion of cross-border e-commerce, CUPIA said digital trade now defines modern customs operations.
“A dedicated e-commerce processing system is no longer optional,” it noted, adding that its proposal places a “tested and operational solution within immediate reach.”
READ: Logistics, regulatory challenges hamper PH e-commerce growth
The Philippine E-Commerce Roadmap 2024–2028 and Republic Act (RA) No. 11967 or the Internet Transactions Act of 2023 set clear expectations for regulation, transparency, and accountability in digital trade.
BOC last year also issued Customs Administrative Order (CAO) No. 01-2025, which covers the policy on the processing, clearance, and release of imported goods to be brought into the country by means of online trading platforms and e-retailer website, encompassing business-to-consumer transactions as defined in RA No. 11967.
The CAO also directs the establishment of an e-commerce processing system, which will be utilized for clearance and release procedures, as well as for implementation of a risk management system.
READ: BOC sets rules on cross-border e-commerce goods clearance
Drawing from this operational record, CUPIA said it delivers a mature e-commerce processing system aligned with the technical, procedural, and governance requirements of CAO No. 01-2025. The system is operational and deployable without further conceptual development.
CUPIA said its proposed system applies risk management as its core operating logic.
Advance electronic data submission, automated validation, and configurable risk profiling enable rapid clearance of low-risk shipments while directing enforcement resources toward higher-risk consignments. Aggregation and analytics functions detect shipment splitting and undervaluation by consolidating transaction data across sellers, buyers, and delivery addresses.
This approach, CUPIA said, provides accurate visibility into trade patterns and revenue exposure under the de minimis regime.
The model also strengthens customs control as it moves enforcement upstream, improves targeting accuracy, and preserves inspection capacity for high-risk cases.
Moreover, CUPIA said the maturity of the platform shortens implementation timelines. Deployment delivers immediate operational benefits while reducing technical and institutional risk. – Roumina Pablo
