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The Bureau of Customs-Manila International Container Port and Philippine Chamber of Customs Brokers, Inc. have signed an agreement authorizing PCCBI personnel to observe and act as witness during physical examination of containers in case cargo owners are absent
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The MOA signed on November 19 covers the stationing of the PCCBI personnel at the Manila International Container Terminal designated examination area from 8:00 a.m. to 12 noon, Mondays to Fridays, exclusively when the consignee or its authorized representative is absent
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Both parties agree that allowing PCCBI representatives to witness examinations “contribute to operational efficiency, transparency, and accountability”
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The agreement took effect on the date of the signing and will remain in effect until terminated or modified by the parties
The Bureau of Customs-Manila International Container Port (BOC-MICP) and Philippine Chamber of Customs Brokers, Inc. (PCCBI) have signed an agreement authorizing PCCBI personnel to observe and act as witness during physical examination of containers in case cargo owners are absent.
The memorandum of agreement (MOA), signed by BOC-MICP district collector Rizalino Torralba and PCCBI president Norberto Castillo on November 19, covers the stationing of the PCCBI personnel at the Manila International Container Terminal designated examination area (DEA) to witness container examinations conducted by BOC-MICP from 8:00 a.m. to 12 noon, Mondays to Fridays, exclusively when the consignee or its authorized representative is absent.
According to the MOA, both parties recognize the need for cooperation in ensuring that examinations at the DEA are properly witnessed, especially in situations when the consignee or its authorized representative is absent.
Both parties also agree that allowing PCCBI representatives to witness examinations “contribute to operational efficiency, transparency, and accountability.”
PCCBI representatives, however, are not allowed to disclose any information obtained during their duties without the written consent of BOC-MICP or unless required by law, rules, and regulations.
The MOA took effect on the date of the signing and will remain in effect until terminated or modified by the parties.
Prior to this agreement, PCCBI in 2018 also signed a similar MOA with BOC, authorizing the chamber’s personnel and experts to observe and act as witnesses during physical examination of alerted shipments in case cargo owners are absent.
The initiative was intended to address the perennial concern when a shipment’s importer, owner, customs broker, or authorized representative is absent or cannot be found since this results in delays in the examination of alerted shipments and in “congestion and other inefficiencies in port operations.”
