The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has issued new rules simplifying the temporary entry of foreign cable-laying and repair vessels, a move expected to accelerate major telecommunications and offshore energy projects while reducing delays and compliance costs.
Customs Administrative Order (CAO) No. 02-2026 establishes a clearer framework for the temporary admission of International Cable-Laying and Repair Vessels (ICLRVs), which are used to survey, install, maintain, upgrade and repair submarine cable systems that support digital connectivity and offshore power facilities.
The order aligns Philippine procedures with the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA) and the Istanbul Convention, signaling the government’s push to make infrastructure implementation more predictable and investment-friendly.
Under the new rules, qualified foreign vessels may temporarily enter the country without paying import duties and taxes if they are used exclusively for authorized submarine cable projects and are re-exported after completing their work.
The regulation also provides faster processing for short-term stays and allows vessels to move between project sites and ports without repeatedly filing import documents, reducing administrative bottlenecks that can slow time-sensitive projects.
The BOC clarified that imported submarine cables, pipes and related equipment will remain subject to existing customs laws and import requirements.
Customs Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno said the reform balances facilitation with oversight.
“This initiative helps create a more efficient environment for projects that improve the country’s digital connectivity and critical infrastructure. By streamlining customs procedures while maintaining proper safeguards, we are supporting investments that benefit businesses, communities, and the Filipino public,” Nepomuceno said.
Published on July 2, the order takes effect on July 17, 2026. The measure advances the BOC’s Integrity, Accountability, and Modernization (IAM) agenda and could help speed the rollout of submarine cable networks and offshore energy investments, two sectors increasingly viewed as essential to the country’s digital economy and long-term energy security.
