The Bureau of Customs (BOC) and the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) signed a data-sharing agreement for access to the BOC’s Electronic Tracking of Containerized Cargo (E-TRACC) System.
The E-TRACC System will allow the BOC to track, monitor, and audit the location and condition of cargoes, as well as obtain real-time alarms on, among others, diversion and tampering of cargoes.
Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio said the bureau, mandated with overseeing the handling, custody, and delivery of goods at all ports of entry, is entrusted with a pivotal role in safeguarding the nation’s interests.
“The E-TRACC System, introduced through Customs Memorandum Order No. 04-2020, has been instrumental in real-time monitoring of containerized goods’ inland movements,” he said.
“Key provisions of the agreement focus on data privacy, security, storage, and retention of confidential information,” the official added.
The BOC will have an E-TRACC System dashboard showing the data collected and transmitted by the system service provider. This will allow BOC to monitor the movement and location of all containers as well as get real-time alarms both on the dashboard and by email.
Importers will be able to monitor the movement of their containers through the system and can also authorize their customs brokers to have access to the system. Booking for the E-TRACC trip can be made a day before or up to one hour before departure of the container.
PEZA will be responsible for regulating, supervising, and facilitating business operations within economic zones.
Under CMO 04-2020, BOC’s Piers and Inspection Division, or its equivalent office at each port of entry or destination, will remotely monitor the sealing and unsealing operations, authorize the start and end trip of the vehicle loaded with transit import/export cargo, and monitor for alarms.