2003 Press Release
Singapore, 31 October 2003 - Leading IT solutions provider CrimsonLogic today announced that its Philippines office has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Philippine Bureau of Customs (BOC) to transform its document submission procedures to an Internet-based system, powered by CrimsonLogic technology. The MOU was signed by Antonio M. Bernardo, Commissioner of BOC and Tan Geok Hoon, Vice President for Trade and Logistics, CrimsonLogic Pte Ltd, and Leo Querubin , General Manager of CrimsonLogic Philippines, Inc on 16 October 2003 in Manila, the Philippines.
The signing ceremony was witnessed by Mdm Lim Kheng Hua, the Singapore Ambassador to the Philippines; Felicitacion Geluz and Bernardo Sales, both Directors of the Management Information System and Technology Group (MISTG); Damian Placido Jr, Director of Legal Services and Jason Leong, Second Secretary Commercial Attache of the Singapore Embassy.
Under the MOU and as part of Commissioner Bernardo's five-point agenda on trade facilitation, CrimsonLogic will develop and implement Internet-based applications and solutions to enable importers and brokers to electronically submit import and export entry declarations via the Internet and in the future, via cellular phones. The five-point agenda of Commissioner Bernardo include trade facilitation; revenue collection; enforcement; tariff and custom code of the Philippine law as well as professionalism.
The customs solution will be rolled out based on an Application Service Provider (ASP) model. When implemented, this system will serve as an alternative, accessible facility for traders to apply and submit their applications online. Brokers and importers will be able to submit and receive confirmation for the following for a fee: manifest, lodgement, assessment, payment, tracking, and online release of shipments.
"Having implemented similar projects in Singapore and other countries around the world, CrimsonLogic is thrilled to extend our expertise and bring secure, state-of-the-art technology to the Philippines BOC," said Mr. Mathivanan, CEO of CrimsonLogic.
CrimsonLogic will explore and implement the use of mobile technologies such as cellular and Wi-Fi in relation to this project, thus allowing importers and brokers to transact business with the BOC even on the move. Also, CrimsonLogic will automate the electronic submission and clearances with other government agencies in subsequent phases.
As an ASP, CrimsonLogic will offer the service directly to brokers and importers. By outsourcing their IT needs on a pay-per-use arrangement, BOC stakeholders, especially the small- and medium- scale enterprises (SMEs) and one-time importers will be able to electronically transact business with the BOC without having the need to invest on or having access to expensive computer hardware, software, training and connectivity.
"The BOC-CrimsonLogic partnership will give the traders, importers and personeros (broker assistants) a new high-tech mode to lodge, pay and track their import shipments by leveraging on the trend-setting Internet-based B2G technology of Singapore," said Deputy Commissioner Alexander M. Arevalo, Head of the Management Information System and Technology Group (MISTG).
This partnership between the BOC and CrimsonLogic Philippines is in pursuit of the BOC's vision for eCustoms transactions of: Anyone, Anytime, Anywhere, Any Device that is Queueless, Paperless and Cashless.
Implementation of this technology alliance will be spearheaded at the BOC by the MISTG directly under the leadership of Deputy Commissioner Alexander M. Arevalo.
CrimsonLogic is a trusted global player in providing innovative and highly-secure IT solutions and services to help businesses and government agencies to work together better, smarter and faster. CrimsonLogic developed some critical Internet-based eGovernment system including TradeNet for the Singapore government. Systems such as TradeNet and the Electronic Filing Service are recognized among the world's best practices in IT solutions. CrimsonLogic is ISO9001 and BS7799 certified and provides similar customs-related solutions in Canada, Ghana, Mauritius and the Middle East.