PRESS RELEASE
Manila, August 20 2021: The Philippines Bureau of Customs (BOC), in cooperation with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), successfully adopted the Business Processing Analysis (BPA) report in developing the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Customs Declaration Document (ACDD) management system on May 6. This milestone will help link the Philippines’ National Single Window (NSW) to electronically exchange ACDD information on the ASEAN Single Window (ASW) regional trade facilitation platform, which will officially launch in November, to broaden economic integration and meet the Philippines’ ASEAN commitment to digitize trade processes and maximize the potential of intra-ASEAN trade.
The United States, through USAID’s ASEAN Policy Implementation (API) project, is assisting the Philippines BOC design and implement the ACDD Management System software, anticipated to facilitate 3,500 ACDD exchanges leading to a projected increase of USD $1.3M in revenue per year. In alignment with the United States strategic partnership with ASEAN, this work fosters trade transformation in the Philippines and contributes to objectives of the ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Strategy to alleviate economic challenges in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Since December 2020, USAID’s API project has worked closely with Philippine BOC officials in identifying infrastructure requirements, information security issues, scoping, functionality design features, and the operational environment of the ACDD management software.
Moving forward, Philippine customs officials are developing a public awareness campaign, with USAID support, to promote the utilization of trade information exchange processes through the ASW platform to expedite cargo clearances and bolster trade revenue.
About USAID
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) works to promote and demonstrate democratic values, prosperity, and security through international programs and technical assistance supporting economic inclusion, women’s empowerment, good governance, and global health security to advance a free, peaceful, and prosperous world. USAID partners with ASEAN to promote unity, consensus-building, and solidarity to bolster ASEAN’s credibility, coordination, and institutional capacity to implement endorsed commitments at the national-level across ASEAN member states that address regional challenges, economic integration, and rule of law.
For more information, please contact:
BOC: Rhoan Escarmosa, Office of the Commissioner, rhoan.escarmosa[at]customs.gov.ph
USAID API: Isabella Veronica Silalahi, Communications Officer, isilalahi[at]ibi-worldwide.com
USAID/ASEAN Office: Samara Sanders, Communications Specialist, jakartausaidasean[at]usaid.gov