CCBI Cebu Lauds ABAMS; BOC-Cebu Collects Record-Breaking Php 4.5 Billion for September

The Cebu Chamber of Customs Brokers Inc. (CCBI) Cebu Chapter President Ronald P. Grancho welcomes the new development in the Bureau of Customs Port of Cebu (BOC-Cebu) after it recently implemented an Automated Boarding Management System (ABAMS) through the Piers and Inspection Division starting last September 2022.

According to Grancho as a practicing custom broker, the automated system of BOC-Cebu helps them a lot in terms of the customs clearance process as it allows to file their entries wherever they are around the globe.

“It also helps reduce physical contact as we can communicate to them through the ABAMS portal, which is really great considering that COVID-19 is just around the corner,” said Grancho.

However, Grancho said that just like any other government system, it also has its own downsides. ” I believe that with time, BOC-Cebu would be able to overcome it and impose an efficient, fast, and reliable service.”

ABAMS, is a homegrown innovation of the Port of Cebu. It is a web-based system for assigning boarding teams to incoming foreign vessels. The system provides fast and convenient upload tasks that deviate from traditional manual assignments using roulette. This system provides automatic and random assignment of boarding teams, real-time updates of boarding assignments including staff and vessel status, approval of requests by the deputy district collector for operations, creation of electronic copies of assignment orders, automatic notification of tasks to team members of the boarding team via Short Message Service (SMS). ) and upload the reports after the completion of the boarding formalities.

This is In line with the vision of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. for the digital Philippines and its direction for the transition to technology management.

The Port of Cebu, led by Commissioner Yogi Filemon L. Ruiz, continues to implement good governance initiatives and use automation and digital solutions in its systems and processes.

The said process might continue the impressive monthly collections BOC-Cebu has displayed for several months especially since the holiday season is just around the corner. Just this September, they made a record-breaking collection of Php 4.5 Billion.

BOC-Cebu collected total revenues of Php 4,489,290,000.00 for September, surpassing the month’s target by Php 1.134 Billion or 33.81%. This collection sets the Port’s highest monthly revenue record anew and reflects a Php 1.7 Billion or 59.43% year-on-year growth.

“With everyone’s renewed commitment and revved-up enthusiasm, we again crossed the Four-Billion-Peso mark we first breached in July. We have also set the Port’s highest quarterly collection this year at Php 12.38 Billion,” remarked District Collector Charlito Martin R. Mendoza in a press statement.

Since the start of 2022, the Port has a total running collection of Php 32.574 Billion with a surplus of Php 4.314 Billion or 15.26%. District Collector Mendoza once again attributed the collection performance to the dedication and active participation of the Port’s personnel in the Bureau of Customs’ reform programs. He likewise credited the accomplishment to the steadfast support of the Port of Cebu’s stakeholders and partner agencies in implementing its good governance initiatives. With only a little over Php 5 Billion left in its annual collection target, the Port is well on track to deliver a sizeable collection surplus to the national treasury by yearend.

It is also the vision of commissioner Ruiz that BOC-Cebu continues to strive to surpass the collection targets for the remaining months of the year and contribute to the government’s economic recovery programs. | with PR