The Philippines Bureau of Customs (BOC) plans to simultaneously deploy 10 container scanning machines in eight ports across the nation through the coordinated efforts of port operators.
The plan is to have all 10 x-ray machines up and running in May to prevent importers switching to other ports that do not have x-ray machines, a report by the National said.
BOC Deputy Commissioner Alexander Arevalo said the machines have passed infrastructure and radiation requirements of the US Department of Health (DOH).
The BOC has also been holding talks with international shipping lines about a proposal to require all ships entering the nation's ports to file a ship's manifest 12 hours before docking at a port.
"This (move) will hopefully stem the tide of under-declaration, mis-declaration and mis-description of goods," said Mr Arevalo.
In addition, the BOC plans to introduce a fuel marking system this summer. Under the initiative, each litre of petroleum will be stamped to prove that it has properly cleared customs checks.
"It's a high-tech and high-value arrangement that will be funded by the petroleum companies primarily aimed at stopping technical smuggling on the petroleum front," he added.
The plan is to have all 10 x-ray machines up and running in May to prevent importers switching to other ports that do not have x-ray machines, a report by the National said.
BOC Deputy Commissioner Alexander Arevalo said the machines have passed infrastructure and radiation requirements of the US Department of Health (DOH).
The BOC has also been holding talks with international shipping lines about a proposal to require all ships entering the nation's ports to file a ship's manifest 12 hours before docking at a port.
"This (move) will hopefully stem the tide of under-declaration, mis-declaration and mis-description of goods," said Mr Arevalo.
In addition, the BOC plans to introduce a fuel marking system this summer. Under the initiative, each litre of petroleum will be stamped to prove that it has properly cleared customs checks.
"It's a high-tech and high-value arrangement that will be funded by the petroleum companies primarily aimed at stopping technical smuggling on the petroleum front," he added.