Monday, August 25, 2008 [ philstar.com ]
SUBIC BAY FREEPORT — The Subic-Clark Alliance for Development Council (SCADC), Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), Clark Development Corp. (CDC), and the Bureau of Customs (BOC) forged recently an agreement to harmonize customs systems and procedures in the free ports of Subic and Clark.
The agreement seeks to institutionalize partnership and cooperation between the parties to enhance the positioning and competitiveness of the two free port zones as a preferred international investment and tourist destination.
Edgardo Pamintuan, SCADC chairman, Customs Commissioner Napoleon Morales, SBMA administrator Armand Arreza, and CDC president Benigno Ricafort signed the agreement that provides for what is called National Single Window (NSW) program in Clark and Subic.
The NSW is a system that enables a single submission and synchronous processing of data and information, resulting in a single point of decision for the release of cargoes by the BOC.
At the same time, the BOC, SBMA and CDC also put into effect a joint memorandum order on automated transit and admission declaration of cargo for Subic and Clark, which outlined the administrative and operational provisions for the automated cargo facility.
The event was witnessed by Trade Undersecretary Thomas Aquino, BOC-Subic collector Marietta Zamoranos, director Filas Chen of the Taiwan Economic and Cultural Office (TECO), and some Taiwanese locators in Subic and Clark. — Ric Sapnu
_________________________________________________________
