Philippine Customs to Pilot Japan-Inspired Processing System at NAIA and Batangas Port
Key Takeaways
- •The Bureau of Customs will pilot-test a Customs Processing System modeled on Japan's NACCS at NAIA and the Port of Batangas, the first two testbeds for the modernization effort.
- •BoC Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno led a delegation to Japan from Oct. 21 to 23 to study the Nippon Automated Cargo and Port Consolidated System.
- •The Bureau is still deciding whether Cebu or Davao will serve as the next pilot site for the system.
- •Meetings with RILO A/P and Tokyo Customs covered intelligence sharing, coordinated enforcement against transnational smuggling, and risk-based inspection practices.
- •Talks at JICA Headquarters explored potential areas for continued technical cooperation and capacity-building, building on existing customs modernization collaboration.
MANILA — The Philippines' Bureau of Customs (BoC) will pilot-test a Customs Processing System (CPS) modeled on a platform it studied in Japan at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) and the Port of Batangas, the agency announced over the weekend.
The system draws on the Nippon Automated Cargo and Port Consolidated System (ACCS), an integrated digital platform that streamlines customs and trade-related transactions. BoC Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno led a delegation to Japan from Oct. 21 to 23 to study NACCS, among other systems. NAIA and Batangas will serve as the first testbeds for an effort the Bureau ties to its broader push to modernize customs operations.
"Our goal is to make customs processes faster, more efficient, and more responsive to the needs of businesses and the public," Mr. Nepomuceno said in a statement. "By learning from Japan's experience, we can adopt practical solutions that improve trade facilitation, strengthen border security, and enhance the quality of services we provide."
"The lessons gained from NACCS are expected to support the Bureau's ongoing efforts to enhance its CPS and further modernize customs operations," the BoC said.
The Bureau is still deciding whether Cebu or Davao will serve as the next pilot site — the immediate next step in taking the system beyond its first two locations.
During the visit, the delegation met with Japan's Customs and Tariff Bureau, the Regional Intelligence Liaison Office for Asia/Pacific (RILO A/P), Tokyo Customs, Yokohama Customs, and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
Talks with RILO A/P covered intelligence sharing and coordinated enforcement against transnational smuggling, while discussions with Tokyo Customs focused on risk-based inspection and border protection practices. The enforcement talks ran alongside the systems study, mirroring the twin goals of trade facilitation and border security set out in Mr. Nepomuceno's statement.
"The visit concluded with discussions at JICA Headquarters on potential areas for continued technical cooperation and capacity-building, building on existing collaboration in customs modernization initiatives," the BoC said. — Justine Irish D. Tabile, BusinessWorld
