THE Bureau of Customs (BoC) will roll out next month an online processing payment system via selected banks which will be available 24 hours a day and seven days a week.
“The BoC, through the Management Information System and Technology Group (MISTG), will be fully implementing the Philippine Clearing House Corp. (PCHC) Payment Application Secure System Version 6.0 (PASS 6) in its Electronic to Mobile (E2M) system on Oct. 1,” the BoC said on its website.
The MISTG is tasked with “upgrad(ing) the present information technology group” as the bureau modernizes.
The PCHC implements electronic-based payment system services, including the PASS 6.
“The BoC E2M system that enables stakeholders to access the services of the bureau, anywhere and anytime, will be integrated with the PASS 6 for efficient payment facilitation,” the BoC said.
“Stakeholders who pay duties and taxes through Security Bank, LANDBANK, Asia United Bank, and Metropolitan Bank and Trust Co. will be the first to experience round-the-clock payment services which can even be accessed from the comfort of their homes,” it added.
The BoC has said that the integrated systems will ensure the accurate and immediate exchange of transaction information on the assessment details of payable duties and taxes.
“In addition, the system allows the processing of shipments to be cleared in a shorter period of time as payments are processed in a seamless manner. The PASS 6’s design allows the completion of payments within minutes,” it said in July.
The BoC said it is also collaborating with other banks to further expand the BoC E2M system.
Earlier this month, Budget Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman said that P3.56 billion of the 2023 proposed national budget will be allocated to digital transformation programs of the BoC and the Bureau of Internal Revenue, accounting for 28.6% of the proposed P12.4-billion budget for information and communications technology projects.
Last month, the Bureau said that 91.8% of its 170 processes have been automated.
The World Bank is supporting the digitalization of the BoC through a $88.28-million facility for the Philippine Customs Modernization Program. — Diego Gabriel C. Robles