The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) welcomed a recent policy shift by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) exempting qualified exporters from the Electronic Tracking of Containerized Cargo (E-TRACC) system, saying the move will reduce costs and streamline cargo flows.
The exemption, formalized under Customs Memorandum Order No. 04-2026, applies to exporters registered with investment promotion agencies, including PEZA locators granted Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) Level 1 privileges. The change follows sustained lobbying from exporters, who have long argued that E-TRACC duplicated existing controls while adding expense without improving outbound logistics.
Removing the requirement delivers immediate savings by eliminating fees tied to GPS-enabled electronic seals. It also cuts processing time associated with seal installation and removal—steps that had slowed deliveries and complicated coordination between economic zones and ports.
PEZA Director-General Tereso O. Panga said the exemption comes at a critical juncture, as exporters grapple with elevated logistics costs and persistent global supply chain uncertainties. Stripping away redundant procedures, he noted, enables firms to move goods faster and respond more effectively to shifting international demand.
Industry stakeholders expect the measure to improve turnaround times, boost shipment reliability, and release resources that can be redirected toward production and expansion. PEZA is pushing for broader coverage, particularly to include fully export-oriented electronics firms that stand to benefit from faster port-to-zone movement.
More broadly, the agency said the policy signals a shift toward risk-based, efficiency-driven regulation. By easing friction in cargo handling while maintaining oversight, authorities aim to strengthen the Philippines’ competitiveness as a regional export platform and investment destination.
