As part of its thrust to automate customs operations and processes towards enhanced trade facilitation and strengthened border protection, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) will roll-out the Electronic Tracking of Containerised Cargo System (E-TRACC System) in various BOC ports nationwide.
According to a press release, E-TRACC System was established following the issuance of Customs Memorandum Order (CMO) 04-2020 which implements Customs Administrative Order (CAO) 15-2019 in relation to Sections 1418 to 1421 of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA).
The system shall enable the Bureau real-time monitoring of inland movements of containerised goods using an information and communications technology (ICT)-enabled system such as the GPS-enabled tracking device to secure its transport to the intended destination.
Cargoes covered by this system are the following:
- Transit Containers bound for Economic Zones
- Transit Containers bound for Free Zones
- Containers Bound for Customs Bonded Warehouse
- Containers Bound for Export
- Reefer Containers bound for second border inspection.
The release noted that under CMO 04-2020, all container vans covered in this order shall be affixed with an electronic customs seal (ECS) before clearance to depart from the port of discharge to the port of destination is given. ECS is a GPS-enabled sealing device or lock that is capable of physically securing cargo and providing real-time location information.
The E-TRACC system software platform shall be used by the BOC Piers Inspection Division (PID) to track and monitor the movement of the cargo that is sealed with the electronic customs seal. It shall track the goods in real-time and provide alarms in case of unauthorised trips, tampering of the device, deviation of the vehicle from authorised routes, or other events that are deemed unusual based on criteria to be determined by the Bureau.
The PID shall be in charge of the monitoring of the sealing and unsealing operations, authorised start and end trip of the vehicle loaded with cargo and monitor for alarms.
E-TRACC System will be rolled out in June 2020 initially covering the Manila International Container Port, Port of Manila, and Port of Batangas, the release mentioned. This will be followed by Cebu, Davao, Subic and Clark in July 2020. The Bureau-wide roll-out and full implementation of the system in all ports is expected to ensue in August 2020.
The operations and implementation of the E-TRACC System shall be supervised by the Deputy Commissioner of the Assessment and Operations Coordinating Group (AOCG).
OpenGov reported earlier that the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases issued the guidelines for the implementation of the RapidPass System.
The Rapid Pass System is the government’s initiative to speed up the checking of the identities of professional at the frontlines and authorised personnel and to lessen person-to-person contact at designated checkpoints. The system employs QR codes and control numbers as checkpoint passes.
In line with these guidelines, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) issued Memorandum Order 06-04-2020 to implement the system for the telecommunications sector. This sector includes public telecommunication entities (PTEs), internet service providers (ISPs), value-added service providers (VASPs), cable tv networks (CATVs), and other pay-TV services and their third-party contractors.
