The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) is pushing a series of customs reforms to unclog cargo operations at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), warning that persistent delays threaten one of the country’s biggest export engines—the semiconductor and electronics industry.
The proposals were presented during a meeting with Bureau of Customs (BOC) Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno and senior customs officials, as government and business leaders sought ways to improve cargo movement, strengthen trade facilitation and reduce supply chain bottlenecks.
The renewed push follows recent congestion at NAIA that slowed the delivery of imported raw materials and components used by semiconductor and electronics manufacturers, highlighting the growing economic cost of logistics inefficiencies.
To speed up cargo processing, PCCI proposed adopting a risk-based clearance system that would allow low-risk shipments to move through customs faster while enabling authorities to focus inspections on higher-risk cargo.
The business group also called for dedicated cargo facilities for Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) locators, saying specialized handling areas would streamline the movement of export-oriented shipments and reduce delays for manufacturers operating on tight production schedules.
Another key recommendation is the conduct of a Time Release Study, an internationally recognized tool that measures how long cargo spends in customs and identifies bottlenecks that can be addressed through policy and operational improvements.
Beyond airport congestion, PCCI urged the BOC and the Bureau of Internal Revenue to issue a Joint Administrative Order harmonizing import data reporting requirements, arguing that inconsistent documentation increases compliance costs and slows trade.
The chamber also backed measures to reduce port congestion and improve transparency in shipping and logistics charges, reforms it said would lower supply chain costs and strengthen the country’s competitiveness as manufacturers diversify production across Southeast Asia.
The discussions also covered the continued participation of PCCI Industry Commodity Experts in the Customs Consultative Group and the proposed Customs Amnesty Bill, which seeks to resolve long-pending Customs Bonded Warehouse cases while generating additional government revenue.
PCCI and the BOC agreed to sustain close coordination in advancing customs modernization, signaling a shared recognition that faster cargo clearance has become as important to trade competitiveness as ports, airports and transport infrastructure themselves.
