Port users, take note that the Bureau of Customs (BOC) has just released an order establishing an Electronic Tracking of Containerized Cargo System (E-TRACC System) covering barge or domestic vessel transfer of containerized goods.
Customs Memorandum Order (CMO) No. 09-2024, issued on August 12, 2024, implements Customs Administrative Order (CAO) No. 15-2019 covering the movement within Customs territory of foreign goods for outright exportation, warehousing and those admitted to Free Zones.
CMO 09-2024 also supplements CMO 4-2020 on establishing an E-TRACC System and accrediting a service provider, as amended by CMO 15-2023.
The order covers both inland and sea transfers of containerized goods using the E-TRACC system.
Taking immediate effect, CMO 09-2024 integrates the procedure for the transit of containerized shipments via barge or other domestic vessels with regular inland transfer.
Key provisions of the new CMO include those in Section 3, which covers the operational procedure for the transit of containers for admission to the free zone, and in Section 4 on the transit of containers for exportation.
Section 3 encompasses barge transit booking and inland transit booking, while Section 4 covers the operational procedure for the transit of containers for exportation.
For barge transit booking, Section 3 says the importer is required to book a trip in the E-TRACC system, providing the needed information such as barge details, container number, port of discharge, name of destination facility, container number, stowage plan, and payment details, among others.
There should only be one booking for the entire containers loaded on the barge or the domestic vessel, declares CMO 09-2024.
Once the containers are loaded, the importer must send the Actual Load List to the E-TRACC System. The E-TRACC will tag the containers as “Loaded,” and authorized customs officials, together with E-TRACC service provider personnel, will arm the E-TRACC device for the barge.
To start the transfer of the laden boxes via barge or domestic vessel, the importer should send the Final Load List to the E-TRACC System.
Once the barge arrives at the destination terminal, the status of barge transfer in the E-TRACC System will be reflected as “End Trip” and be tagged as “Arrived” and “Received” in the system.
When the containers are completely discharged, the importer must then send the Discharge List to the E-TRACC System, whereupon the authorized customs officer from PEZA Cavite Customs Office, together with the authorized E-TRACC service provider personnel, will then disarm the E-TRACC device for the barge.
Meanwhile, Section 3 also provides the guidelines on inland transit booking. Here E-TRACC booking for the transfer of individual containers from the terminal up to their final destination in the Free Zone can be done immediately after the barge transit booking is completed. “Booking procedure under CMO No. 04-2020 shall remain effective,” declares the order.
The order adds that import containers will remain at the terminal facility yard until these laden boxes are booked by its importer.
“Only booked containers will be sealed with an Electronic Customs Seal and allowed to commence transit to their Special Economic Zone destination,” states CMO 09-2024.
Disarming of containers that arrived at the Free Zone shall be in accordance with CMO No. 15-2023. The export containers will remain within the terminal facility until the barge booking and requirements are completed, and the containers are ready for barge loading and transit.
On the other hand, Section 4 covers the operational procedure for the transit of containers for exportation.
The section provides that E-TRACC booking for the transfer of containers from the Free Zone to the terminal facility to be used as transit point for barge transfer shall be done in accordance with the procedure under CMO 04-2020.
Upon entry at the terminal facility, the Electronic Customs Seal shall be disarmed in accordance with CMO No. 15-2023 by the authorized Customs officer from PEZA Cavite Customs Office, together with authorized personnel from the E-TRACC service provider.
The importer shall make a barge transit booking for the containers to be loaded onto the barge.
The authorized Customs officer from PEZA Cavite Customs Office, together with the authorized personnel from the E-TRACC service provider, shall arm the E-TRACC device for the barge, provided that containers are already loaded onto the barge.
When the containers arrive at and are discharged from the port of destination, the personnel from the Customs Container Control Division or equivalent office of the port of loading for exportation, together with authorized personnel from the E-TRACC service provider, shall disarm the electronic seal for the barge.
