|
INTERCOMMERCE Network Service Inc.(INS), one of the
value added service providers of the Bureau of Customs,
said it will start accepting payments online by
December, a move seen to increase its market share among
customs brokers and other shippers.
INS
president Francis Lopez told reporters last week there
are only two hurdles for the system to go green. The
first is the need to tie up with banks dealing with the
BOC and have the capability to handle such payments. The
second is the guidelines for the online payment itself.
Lopez
said they are finalizing the former and would
test-launch the system anytime this month.
“We want
to forge an alliance with several banks. We are also
currently talking with the BOC to help us get the nod of
their accredited banks to accept online payment for our
services and that of the agency,” Lopez said.
He said
that having an efficient payment system would compliment
the online lodgment of import entries, especially when
government shuts down the entry encoding centers in main
gateways of the country, such as the Port of Manila.
Lopez
said that its clients at the Ninoy Aquino International
Airport and the Port of Cebu both wanted to have an
online payment system since all noncash, tax credit,
advance payments could be paid to banks online as well
as payments of imports after final assessment is made.
At the
moment, INS is talking to five banks, including the Land
Bank of the Philippines and Development Bank of the
Philippines.
INS is
BOC’s first accredited service provider, which gave them
enough lead time to forge tie-ups with other firms that
transacts with BOC- such as banks and the Chamber of
Customs Brokers Inc.
The
other two accredited VASPs are E-Konek Pilipinas and
Cargo Data Exchange Center.
BOC
deputy commissioner Alexander Arevalo earlier said they
would ask the Bankers Association of the Philippines
help them with plans to change the current payment
system to speed up the movement of shipments.
The
three VASPs, which would serve as BOC’s front men in
most of its public transactions, are expected to slug it
out for market share with the shut down of various Entry
Encoding Center, a facility being operated by the
Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry. |
