Consultation on IRR of new Customs law
THE Department of Finance (DOF) and the Bureau of Customs started today the first of a series of consultations on the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of a new law that aims to modernize the BOC and institute reforms in the agency.
Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon, National Treasurer Roberto Tan, Finance Undersecretary Gil Beltran and other officials of the BOC attended the consultative forum held at the Bureau of Treasury (BTR)’s Ayuntamiento de Manila building in Intramuros recently.
The forum was organized to clarify the procedure in drafting the IRR of Republic Act 10863 or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA) and gather inputs from stakeholders.
“There are so many things that we need to put in place so that we can fix the bureau. Today’s activity will give the answer to this,” said Faeldon in his opening remarks.
Faeldon said that under the new law, he plans to beef up border security measures, especially in provincial ports to beef up customs collections and prevent smuggling.
“If we want to improve our collection target, we have to do our part in border security” in order to help stop smuggling, he said.
Under the new law, the BOC is required to come up with an improved system on customs administration and procedures that comply with international standards.
Among the other expected reforms under the CMTA are the full electronic processing of all documents, forms and receipts, along with streamlining methods for the examination and valuation of imports and exports.