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Changes are now in place at the Bureau of Customs’ Accounts Management Office, including streamlined procedures
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AMO had changes in its personnel
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A dedicated evaluation lane has been established for the top 1,000 importers and members of the Super Green Lane and Authorized Economic Operator Program
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AMO also adopted an internal digital evaluation and approval process and intends to eventually roll out a digital system that will allow importers and customs brokers to fill out their application online and just upload the required documents
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AMO also removed redundant steps such as pre-checking to streamline its process flow for evaluating and approving new and renewal applications
Changes are now in place at the Bureau of Customs’ (BOC) Accounts Management Office (AMO), including streamlined procedures, following its temporary transfer to the Post Clearance Audit Group (PCAG).
Since its transfer last June, AMO underwent changes in its personnel and had established a dedicated evaluation lane for the top 1,000 importers and members of the Super Green Lane and Authorized Economic Operator Program, according to AMO executive officer Melvin Joseph Banzon in a presentation during the 6th Customs Industry Consultative and Advisory Council (CICAC) general assembly and 12th Central CICAC meeting on August 6.
AMO also adopted an internal digital evaluation and approval process and intends to eventually roll out a digital system that will allow importers and customs brokers to fill out their application online and just upload the required documents.
The duties and responsibilities of accredited importers and customs brokers are now printed at the back of the Certificate of Registration and Certificate of Accreditation.
AMO also removed redundant steps such as pre-checking to streamline its process flow for evaluating and approving new and renewal applications. Processing time is now between three to seven days from the previous seven days.
Importers’ accreditation
To fast track importers’ application for renewal of accreditation, AMO now allows importers to just submit four essential requirements–application form, Certificate of No Change in Business Information or Certificate of Change in Business Information if there is a change, processing fee receipt, and Client Profile Registration System and updated notification of “stored” status–as well as an affidavit of undertaking that they will submit within 30 days the five other requirements for renewal of accreditation. Banzon said this will grant importers provisional accreditation, subject to the submission of the five other follow-up requirements. If the five other requirements are not submitted within 30 days as stated in the affidavit of undertaking, accreditation will be suspended.
AMO also created a direct line and appointed focal persons for the collection districts of Port of Manila and Manila International Container Port for accreditation matters.
Aside from these, AMO has been implementing the extension in the validity of importers’ accreditation and customs brokers’ registration, and the policy changes under Customs Administrative Order (CAO) No. 01-2026, which amends certain provisions of CAO No. 01-2022, which provides BOC’s rules on accreditation of importers.
READ: 3-year importer accreditation takes effect under new BOC rules
BOC last June transferred the AMO from the Intelligence Group (IG) to PCAG, with its direct supervision and control under the director of PCAG’s Trade Information and Risk Analysis Office (TIRAO).
Last July, BOC moved the supervision, control, and administrative authority of AMO from TIRAO to the office of the assistant commissioner for PCAG.
The transfer to PCAG is temporary and AMO will eventually be transferred to the BOC Assessment and Operations Coordinating Group, according to Customs commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno.— Roumina Pablo
