Optimizing the management of trade facilitation activities advances another step for the Bureau of Customs (BOC) in achieving full visibility and cross-border cooperation with ASEAN. After months of focused strategies, the Philippines is now exchanging the ASEAN Customs Declaration Document (ACDD) using the live environment of the ASEAN Single Window (ASW) regional platform, with the intent of supporting Customs risk targeting and profiling activities.

The ASW regional platform is an environment that connects and integrates the National Single Windows (NSWs) of ASEAN Member States. It allows the electronic exchange of trade documents such as the electronic Certificate of Origin (e-CO) Form D under the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement and the ACDD, including the electronic phyto-sanitary and animal health certificates that are planned to be exchanged soon.

Exporters from Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam may join the ACDD exchange by granting prior consent to their exporting Customs Authorities.

A draft Customs Memorandum Order (CMO) is being finalized by the BOC which will define the Operational Guidelines such as record keeping and tracking of all ACDD related messages, including the duties and responsibilities of the customs personnel responsible for monitoring of outbound and inbound messages using the ACDD Operations Portal. Incentives through risk-based and trade facilitation support are being worked out by BOC for participating exporters.

The BOC ACDD Operations Portal, which connects to the ASW System through the country’s NSW — the TRADENET.gov.ph platform, will be formally launched in January 2022.