The Bureau of Customs (BOC) and the Land Transportation Office (LTO) have inked partnership to strengthen measures to combat smuggling in the country, such as tightening controls for registration of imported vehicles.
The two agencies made this happen through a signing of memorandum of agreement (MOA) on Tuesday.
‘This mutual cooperation with the LTO reinforces our shared goal of ensuring transparency, efficiency, and strict compliance with customs laws and other government regulations. By working together, we want to make sure that every vehicle import and registration process is handled with the highest standards of integrity,’ BOC Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno said in a statement.
According to the BOC, the MOA will allow the two agencies to improve data sharing for documents such as Certificates of Payment, Certificates of Registration, and Official Receipts.
In a separate statement, the LTO also said that the agreement aims to streamline tracking of imported vehicles and establish a system between vehicle importation and registration.
‘They will also form a joint task force to lead enforcement operations against unlawfully imported vehicles, including those misclassified or misdeclared, in violation of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA), and other related violations,’ the BOC added.
LTO Chief Assistant Secretary Markus Lacanilao said that they aim for the government to not lose revenue.
‘I will make sure that every imported vehicle will pay the right taxes. I will make sure that registered vehicles under the Land Transportation Office are roadworthy,’ Lacanilao said, speaking mosty in Filipino, in a separate statement.
The BOC shared that a technical working group will be formed to develop the implementing rules and guidelines to make the partnership effective.
The BOC also reported that the LTO turned over one unit of Lamborghini Urus to the BOC apprehended in the Bonifacio Global City to undergo customs processes. /jpv