Engr. Nigel Paul Villarete (right), Mactan Cebu International Airport general manager, shares a light moment with Customs Commissioner Alberto Lina after a meeting on the Mandaue-Mactan Bridge repair project. (CDN PHOTO/JUNJIE MENDOZA)
THE Bureau of Customs in Cebu has started operating round-the-clock to allow exporters and importers to move their shipments at night and spare them from the traffic congestion that would result from the partial closure of the Mandaue-Mactan Bridge for repairs.
Customs Commissioner Alberto Lina announced the 24/7 operations at the Port of Cebu during a dialog with stakeholders yesterday.
“I know the name of the game is speed. Tuloy-tuloy ito. Kaya naman natin ibigay (We have the capacity to do this). We will do the adjustments for you here,” Lina told exporters, importers as well as port and airport officials.
But he said exporters and importers should make sure their documents are complete to avoid any delay.
He also said the banks should also be available to process the payment of taxes and duties upon the filing of entries.
This development is expected to ease congestion at the port, said Porferio “Dodon” Montesclaros, director of the Mactan Export Processing Zone Chamber of Exporters and Manufacturers (Mepzcem).
He said he has been pushing for 24/7 operations at the port since 2001.
“Mepz is 24/7, Peza (Philippine Economic Zone Authority) is 24/7, Opascor (Oriental Port and Allied Services Corp.) is 24/7. If all of you are going fast and there is one that is not doing the same thing, it will slow everything down,” he told Cebu Daily News.
Cebu District Collector Rico Rey Holganza said they will initially do gatekeeping.
“We will start with gatekeeping this week and processing of entries next week provided payments are made,” Holganza said in a text message.
Customs police will serve as gatekeepers after 10 p.m. until 7 a.m. the next day per Lina’s instructions, he said. From 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., three gatekeepers are assigned at the Cebu port.
Because of limited manpower, Holganza said only one examiner will be assigned to receive entries at night.
“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 i-release ang containers (Customs police will check the documents if they are in order before they release the containers),” Holganza said.
Maximo Rey Eleccion, Cebu Bankers’ Club president, said some banks already offer online banking services.
This should complement the 24/7 operations of Customs, he said.
“I think, like in BIR, clients can pay online. Banks offering online payments facility to clients have been 24/7 already,” Eleccion said.
Melanie Ng, president of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI), said they will meet with Philexport Cebu and Cebu bankers next week to ensure smooth processing of payments.
“This is a positive development which our members who are business stakeholders are eagerly waiting (for),” Ng told CDN.
The first Mandaue-Mactan Bridge will be closed for repairs this summer. No timetable has been specified, but the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) aims to begin in April.
Project engineer Danilo Pasicaran said they were still waiting for the Metro Cebu Water District (MCWD) to strengthen the support for its 400-meter pipeline attached to the bridge’s underside.