Hiring brokers still OK – BOC chief

ENGAGING the services of a licensed customs broker by an importer or exporter to get their goods out of the piers will now be optional, but the Bureau of Customs (BOC) assured licensed customs brokers it was not against them.

In a statement, Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon said he would faithfully implement Republic Act No. 10863, the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA) of 2016.

“[We are] not eliminating the important role of customs brokers from the BOC’s processes,” Faeldon said in a briefing on basic customs procedures, rules and regulations last week.

Faithfully

He said the BOC would ensure the CMTA was faithfully implemented, particularly its provisions favoring the country’s interests.

Section 106 of the CMTA states that a declarant may be a consignee or a person who has the right to dispose of the goods.

The declarant lodging a goods declaration with the BOC may be the importer, the exporter, a customs broker acting under authority of the importer or exporter, or a person empowered to act as an agent or attorney in fact.

Flexibility

“The aforesaid provision therefore does not intend to eliminate customs brokers from the BOC but makes it optional for the importers and exporters to engage the services of licensed customs brokers when doing transactions with the BOC,” the BOC statement said.

It said the CMTA provision gave importers and exporters flexibility in their dealings with the BOC.

Dialogue

Faeldon urged licensed customs brokers to unite, assuring them he was open to a dialogue with legitimate groups.

He said he was acting pursuant to the law and the BOC would pursue propeople reforms.

“If importers choose to dispense with the services of licensed customs brokers, the cost of doing business and bringing in various goods and products would be reduced and this would redound to the benefit of the Filipino consumer,” Faeldon said. TVJ