MANILA, Sept. 12 (PNA) — Shipments of goods are now mandated to file consumption entries at the port of first discharge to prevent cargoes from missing during transshipment, the Bureau of Customs said.
Under Customs Memorandum Order 28-2015 issued by Customs Commissioner Bert Lina, all sea shipments, intended for use or consumption in the country, would be covered by the necessary import entry for immediate consumption, whether formal or informal, at the assessment office at the port of first discharge upon importation into the Philippine territory even if the final destination was another port.
Customs Deputy Commissioner for Assessment and Operations Agaton Uvero said that the order required the immediate filing of import entries and the payment of duties and taxes of goods at the port of first discharge, instead of the practice of allowing the filing of entry and payment of duties in the port of final destination.
“To illustrate, the old practice allows cargo discharged in a Manila port to be transshipped to Cebu (as port of final destination) where the import entry will then be filed, and the duties and taxes will be assessed and paid. Under the new rules, the importer will now have to immediately file an import entry and pay duties and taxes in Manila before the same can be transported to Cebu,” the BOC official said.
Uvero added, “Transshipments will no longer be allowed and the filing of the entry at the final destination shall be strictly prohibited. That way, we prevent containers from missing during transshipment.”
The order excludes shipments imported by accredited locators of the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) and free ports; articles intended for use by accredited CBWs; and those imported for immediate exportation.
The order is set to be effective immediately. (PNA)