A few weeks ago, the Subic Chamber wrote the Bureau of Customs seeking assistance to alleviate the distress of a number of its members due to the E2M Cargo Movement System of the BOC computer system allegedly being down. This caused additional storage fees.
The Chamber understands the quandary that a lot of Subic Bay locators experience whenever a system has its downtime or merely not working efficiently. It would mean delays resulting in revenue losses.
The Subic Chamber, consequently, requested clarification from the BOC and to provide possible solutions.
We’re not holding our breath. It is not uncommon for government agencies to simply ignore letters sent their way, especially complaints. That’s even if Section 3, Rule VI of the implementing rules of Republic Act No. 6713, the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, requires that written requests, motions and petitions, and the like must be acted upon within 15 days from receipt.
But... the BOC responded promptly. Here:
PROF. DANNY PIANO
President
Subic Bay Freeport Chamber of Commerce
Rm. 101 SBMA Regulatory Building cor.
Labitan St. & Rizal Highway
Subic Bay Freeport Zone
Dear Prof. Piano,
This is in reference to your letter addressed to Atty. Adelina Molina, District Collector, Port of Subic dated 22 May 2013, requesting for clarification on the recent downtime of the E2M system of the Bureau of Customs.
We understand your concems and rest assured that we are doing our best to address the problems brought about by these recent E2M downtimes and to prevent a recurrence of the same.
Please allow us to explain the reason why the E2M problem occurred on May 9 to 10, 2013.
The problem was rooted on backlog transaction which overloaded the server. The downtime experienced on May 9, 2013 and the unstable operation on May 10, 2013, followed by a 3-day weekend caused a data backlog of more than eight (8) thousand transactions. This overloaded the servers and resulted in slowdown and server restarts.
To remedy the problem, MISTG implemented the following:
- Closer monitoring of the E2M server;
- User processing/activity rnonitoring;
- VASP and PCHC coordination;
- Clearing of tables;
- Extended working hours for MISTG (On-call).
For the long-term solution, the following projects are lined-up to provide a lasting solution to the problem:
- Network Upgrade and outsourcing - Awarded to PLOT;
- IT Infrastructure and Maintenance project - Awarded to the JV of Webfontaine and Omniprime;
- IPCS -Integrated Philippines Customs system (upgrade of E2M);
- NSW2 - National Single Window phase 2.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
JONATHAN T. SORIANO
Officer-In-Charge, MISTG
cc: Commissioner Rozzano Rufino B. Biazon
Deputy Commissioner Ma. Caridad P. Manarang, MISTG
Atty. Adelina Molina, District Collector, Port of Subic
The Subic Chamber, to be quite frank about it, was pleasantly surprised by the timely reply from the Bureau of Customs. We were expecting, at most, just an acknowledgment of the letter’s receipt. We were wrong.
What we received was the BOC not only owning up and explaining the problem; it also provided practical solutions—both short-term and long-term.
Last March, the BOC acquiesced to attending our Import/Export Forum. This time, their reply to our letter seemed to be sincere and spot on with its solutions. I myself am not easily impressed, but with this second one on top of the first, I am.
This got me thinking about the much talked-about planned abolition of the Bureau of Customs a couple of months back. You know, where the Aquino administration considered that smuggling can only be totally stamped out by total abolition of the BOC and by replacing it with “a professional institution run by private officials and employees.”
I am a staunch supporter of that move, even if there are known legal impediments and even if an act of Congress may be needed. But hey, I think I’m having a change of heart; not that it matters any. But perhaps a total abolition is an overkill?
Conceivably, a combination of top-down cleansing of known corrupt personnel, promotion of the good ones, and a full automation that will do away with face-to-face transactions between Customs employees and importers/exporters may be enough.
There could be hope after all—and it may not be via abolition.
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