THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) is set to launch a new tracking application that will allow importers to monitor their shipments in real time.
The shipments will be tracked from its port to arrival to its release, a move seen to boost transparency and eliminate misinformation within the agency.
Customs Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno said the app, which is powered by the bureau’s Value-Added Service Provider (VASP) system, aims to end the ‘black hole’ period when importers lose visibility over their shipments once they land at the port of Manila.
‘Just imagine the empowerment that we will give the importers. They will not be fooled anymore and we will no longer be a fall guy,’ Nepomuceno told reporters on the sidelines of a forum last Wednesday.
He added the app will notify importers once their cargo is being processed, assessed or released.
According to the BOC, the system will help curb disinformation that often leads to corruption and misunderstanding between importers, brokers, and customs personnel.
‘With this app, it will be harder for anyone to manipulate or mislead clients,’ the BOC chief said.
This move is a part of the initiative of the agency’s broader plan to achieve full digitalization of its processes which was described as the ‘ultimate solution’ to their long-standing inefficiencies.
‘Not partial, not 90 percent, but 100 percent full digitalization. Technologies are available for us to adopt. The question is do we have a budget for that?’
Nepomuceno said the BOC initially struggled with securing funding for the program since the 2025 budget proposal was already finalized when he was appointed as the agency’s chief.
Meanwhile, at the core of BOC’s modernization plan is the Customs Processing System (CPS) which will allow digital submission of import entries, assessments, and payments similar to an automated banking transaction. The BOC said the system will ensure that all transactions are fully recorded and traceable to minimize opportunities for fraud.
‘I promise you that we will pursue digitalization as the main thrust of changing the BOC. We will play our role, we’ll do our best to give you a better, modern BOC that you can be proud of, that can serve you well,’ the customs head said.
To complement the CPS, they are also planning to install upgraded scanning machines and smart CCTVs in ports nationwide.
‘With all these reforms, we are building a smart BOC and once the app is launched, both importers and the government will benefit from a more transparent and accountable customs system,’ Nepomuceno added.