Gatchalian to BOC: Automate processes, eliminate human intervention

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Thursday urged the Bureau of Customs (BOC) to completely automate its internal processes and remove human intervention to combat corruption in the agency.

He issued the call after a United States government flagged corruption and red tape in BOC as a factor in making trade more costly and less efficient.

“Customs officials should go beyond just identifying the leakages and sources of these corrupt practices and illicit trade,” the senator said

“I urge the BOC to completely automate all internal processes and eliminate human intervention,” he added.

In its 2019 National Trade Estimate Report on Foreign Trade Barriers, the U.S. Office of the Trade Representative (USTR) said corruption and irregularities in BOC persists, including undue and costly delays.

Among those delays include irregularities in the valuation, 100 percent inspection and testing of some products, and customs officials seeking the payment of unrecorded facilitation fees.

“The latest report of the US Office of the Trade Representative (USTR) is a clear proof that  corruption, leakage, and rent-seeking activities continue to plague the Bureau of Customs,” Gatchalian said in a statement.

He noted that the systematic corruption has been plaguing the BOC which has dampened the country’s potential in cornering higher foreign direct investments and caused the trade deficit to widen.

Gatchalian also urged Customs officials to continuously examine trade statistics to measure the success of the BOC collection compared to its revenue target.

“More importantly, they should determine and measure the efficacy of the reforms that are currently being implemented,” Gatchalian added.

The senator said he has already filed a resolution to look into the effects of corruption in BOC to the country’s economy and to determine solutions to combat such problems.

He said he plans to include the USTR’s report in the Senate inquiry. /muf