BoC set to adopt cross-border electronic invoicing

THE Bureau of Customs (BoC) will adopt the cross border electronic invoicing (e-invoicing) in its digital transformation program targeted to simplify and speed up trading and eliminate technical smuggling.

Customs Assistant Commissioner and concurrent spokesman Philip Maronilla said the bureau does not stop from improving its system, and cross border einvoicing is something that caught the

BoC’s interest. Based on the recent experience of Indonesia, which lost $12 billion in duties and taxes on gold imports, it could have beenprevented by cross border e-invoicing which prevents the tampering of goods description and HS codes, a standardized numerical method of classifying traded products used by customs authorities around the world to identify products when assessing duties and taxes and for gathering statistics.

“Tampering of the HS Code is very rampant. It is done by unscrupulous importers in connivance with some corrupt customs personnel,”according to Rosendo, president of the Samahang Agrikultura ng Pilipinas (Sinag), adding that tampering of HS code is common in the importation of meat and steel products. Vito Barcelo

Poe favors legalizing motorcycle taxis

NOTING that motorcycles are a safe and convenient mode of public transportation in the country, Sen. Grace Poe believes it is about time to legalize these two-wheeled vehicles.

Poe said the Department of Transportation pilot study on the viability of motorcycle taxis which started in 2019 can be used as a basis for legislation.

“After more than four years of continuous studies by the technical working group (TWG), it now appears, without a doubt, that commuters are overwhelmingly in favor of legalizing motorcycles taxis,” Poe noted. She said the TWG survey reports 96 percent of motorcycle taxi passengers believed that government should allow motorcycle taxis.

The study also showed that commuters favor motorcycle taxis’ affordability and quicker conveyance time in the clogged streets of urban centers where motorcycle taxis were allowed to operate. Grab senior executive vice president Lim Yew Heng said the passage of a motorcycle taxi law will be a boon for commuters. “This will encourage the entry of motorcycle taxi companies that will provide Filipino commuters with more transportation options.

Earlier, Lim participated in the hearing convened to tackle proposals seeking to regulate and legalize motorcycles-for-hire and ensure that it is safe, convenient and affordable mode of public transportation. Macon Ramos-Araneta

“As the country’s independent national human rights institution, we underscore the importance of putting primacy on the best interestof children. While we affirm that the serious concerns raised must be acted upon expeditiously, we also stress that it must be dealt with in a manner that is conscious and sensitive to the needs of the children,” the CHR said. Rio N. Araja

Broadcasters-CCC climate change accord

GROUP of online broadcasters has partnered with the Climate Change Commission (CCC) under the Office of the President to help mitigate the adverse impact of global warming.

Dr. Michael Raymond Aragon, Kapisanan ng Social Media Broadcasters ng Pilipinas Inc. chairman, said he and CCC Commissioner Albert dela Cruz yesterday inked a memorandum of agreement in Malacanang, Manila to push for a private-public partnership to use the social media platform, and to inform and educate the people about climate change as the result of global warming and its effects on the Earth’s climate system.

“I am truly elated of this privilege that the government recognizes the importance of online broadcast to help fight climate change and to promote our group’s advocacy for a cleaner and greener environment,” he said.

“We intend to sustain this collaboration with the CCC for the greater interest of our beloved country and people,” he added. Rio N. Araja