THE Department of Finance (DOF) has issued the Joint Administrative Order (JAO) aimed to curb smuggling, misdeclaration, and undervaluation by simplifying customs procedures and inspection of imported items, among others.
DOF, in a news release Friday, said JAO No. 001-2025 was issued to implement Administrative Order (AO) No. 23, or the Digital and Integrated System for Pre-border Technical Verification and Cross-border Electronic Invoicing, aimed to protect Filipino consumers.
Issuance of these measures is in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.’s 8-Point Socioeconomic Agenda of enhancing bureaucratic efficiency by streamlining government processes and ensuring transparency in public service delivery, it said.
“With the freshly issued JAO, we can now begin our collective efforts towards strengthening our border protection through digitalization. This will certainly go a long way in putting an end to smuggling, misdeclaration, and undervaluation. This will not only ensure that our consumers are protected from counterfeit and substandard goods, but also help us collect much-needed revenues for our people. Sisiguraduhin po namin sa DOF ang maayos at mabilis na pagpapatupad ng AO 23 (We, at the DOF, will ensure the proper and faster implementation of of AO 23),” Finance Secretary Ralph G. Recto was quoted in the release.
The news release said the JAO simplifies customs procedures, expedites the inspection of all imported goods, strengthens border security, and protects consumers from substandard products, with the latter making sure that the items comply with all Philippine safety and quality standards.
DOF is the lead agency of the Committee on Pre-border Technical Verification and Cross-border Electronic Invoicing (CPTVCEI) and the members include the Bureau of Customs (BOC), Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Energy (DOE), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).
Industry associations representatives such as those from the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) and the Chemical and Pharmaceutical Industry Organization of the Philippines (CPIOPI) are also members of the Committee. (PR)
