Customs to operate 24/7 for Cebu

To ease the inconvenience for businesses caused by the closure of the old Mandaue-Mactan bridge, Customs Commissioner Alberto Lina announced on Thursday that their Cebu office will now be opened on weekends.

Lina said they would also operate on a 24-hour basis to process applications for the entry cargo and other goods to allow locators and businesses to move their shipments at night time and avoid from getting stuck in traffic.

“I know the name of the game is speed. Tuloy-tuloy ito. Kaya naman natin ibigay. (This would be continuous. We can give this) We will do the adjustments for you here,” he said in a dialogue with stakeholders held on Thursday morning.

Lina said businesses and importers should also make sure that they come to the Bureau of Customs (BOC) office with complete documentations to avoid any delays.

He is also asking the banks to hasten the processing of payments made upon the filing of entries. Lina said they could not process the payment of taxes and other customs duties if banks go offline.

Lawyer Rico Rey Francis Holganza, BOC Port of Cebu District Collector, said they would start with their 24 /7 operations on Thursday.

But with their manpower limitation, Holganza said, they will only have one examiner assigned to receive entries at night time.

Holganza said Lina also gave instructions for the customs police to function as gatekeepers after 10p.m.

“Pag-release sa containers, kadtong madugay pagdala sa ilang papel ngadto sa examiner, ang customs police na ang motan-aw ana nga ang imong documents are all in order, usa irelease ang containers (For the release of containers, those who will be delayed in bringing the papers to the examiner, it will be the customs police who will look into the documents if they are in order before they could release the containers),” he said.