-
The order integrating the Bureau of Customs Automated Export Declaration System with the Automated Export Documentation System of economic zone/freeport zone authorities and investment promotion agencies is in the final stages
-
Target approval for the customs memorandum order is first quarter of 2024
-
The proposed order aims to streamline procedures and secure accurate statistical data for exports from free zones
An order integrating the Bureau of Customs (BOC) Automated Export Declaration System (AEDS) with the Automated Export Documentation System (AEDoS) of economic zone/freeport zone authorities and investment promotion agencies (IPA) is in the final stages.
The target approval for the customs memorandum order (CMO) is first quarter of 2024, according to Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) deputy director general for operations Vivian Santos in a recent media interview.
The draft CMO is under review by the Office of the BOC Commissioner.
The CMO aims to streamline procedures for the effective implementation of AEDS and AEDoS for export shipments of enterprises registered with ecozone/freeport zone authorities, such as PEZA, and other IPAs.
It also seeks to ensure accurate statistical data for exports from free zones.
BOC last August conducted a virtual public consultation on the proposed CMO, where PEZA locators expressed their support for the integration.
READ: BOC AEDS-AEDoS integration up for public consult
The CMO will apply to export shipments coming from various freeport zones, covered by export declaration (ED)-single administrative document (SAD) authorized under the ecozone/freeport zone/IPAs. These declarations will be submitted electronically through the BOC-accredited value-added service providers (VASPs) to the AEDS under BOC’s Electronic-to-Mobile (E2M) System.
AEDS, a module under the E2M System, processes the ED/SAD submitted by exporters. AEDoS, on the other hand, refers to the export documentation system used by various ecozone/freeport zone authorities and other IPAs for front-end processing of export shipments.
Santos highlighted the benefit for PEZA locators, emphasizing that the integration means only a single lodgment will be required. Currently, PEZA locators lodge in PEZA’s AEDoS, and their VASP subsequently lodges with BOC’s AEDS.
Under the draft CMO from the August consultation, ecozone/freeport zone authorities can issue memorandum orders or circulars, aligning and harmonizing their export systems with BOC’s AEDS.
The Customs commissioner will issue a memorandum on the CMO’s schedule of implementation based on the recommendation of the Management Information and Systems Technology Group.
Additionally, zone authorities must designate a customs clearance area (CCA), managed by BOC as a clearing and processing center for goods entering or leaving the zone. The affixing of GPS seals under BOC’s Electronic Tracking of Containerized Cargo System, or E-TRACC, will be conducted at the CCA or a designated area.
BOC personnel at the CCA will act as trade control examiners, available for document verification and/or physical examination of export shipments. They will also have online access to the E2M System to monitor export documents lodged by registered enterprises in their assigned areas. – Roumina Pablo
 of economic zone/freeport zone authorities and IPAs is in the final stages){kind=link}