The Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) yesterday said the government will strengthen the implementation of the TradeNet, an online one-stop shop aimed to reduce processing time and harmonize the permitting procedures involved in import and export in the country.
A system long awaited by stakeholders, the digital platform is seen to boost the import and export trade, especially between the Philippines and other Southeast Asian counties. The TradeNet is now connected to the Asean Single Window System and is undergoing technical improvements.
ARTA recentlypresided the meeting between the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and the Department of Finance (DOF) to clarify the issues on the draft memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the two agencies.
The MOA will be signed by the aforementioned agencies by early December.
The meeting was led by Undersecretary Ernesto Perez, officer-in-charge of ARTA, undersecretary Dennis Villorente of the DICT, assistant secretary DakilaElteenNapao and director Angelica Sarmiento of the DOF, and representatives from the Bureau of Customs and Presidential Management Staff.
During the meeting, the DICT has agreed to spearhead the technical aspects of the TradeNet including the online system’s management and maintenance.
DOF, for its part, has also agreed to lead the collaboration and coordination in the onboarding of 73 Trade Regulatory Agencies (TGRAs) in the platform.
“ARTA will monitor all the agencies on their compliance to the mandatory onboarding in the TradeNet platform. This is to simplify and harmonize the permitting and licensing processes concerning imports and exports of the 73 TRGAs which was the purpose of ARTA’s previously issued memorandum circular, “Perez said
ARTA said the signing of the MOA was halted several times since 2019 because the two agencies, the DICT and DOF, could agree on the dileneation of tasks that are essential for the full operationalization of the TradeNet.
But through ARTA’s intervention last November 4, the two agencies finally reached an agreement on their responsibilities and roles relevant to the success of the digital platform.
According to ARTA, the consensus includes the following: The DICT has agreed to spearhead the technical aspects of the TradeNet including the online system’s management and maintenance and; the DOF has agreed to lead the collaboration and coordination in the onboarding of 73 trade regulatory agencies in the platform.
