Customs Regulations for Cargo Discharge

• A distressed vessel in port can unload cargo with a permit from the Collector of Customs, upon written request from the Master or Agent.
• Discharged cargoes are subject to the same rules as those destined for the port where they are unloaded, if they will be cleared there.
• Cargoes must be discharged onto the pier, unless a Shipside Discharge Permit is authorized.
• If discharged into lighters, they must be of the closed type, secured, locked, sealed with Customs seal, and under guard.
• Unless the vessel is "in distress," the Customs Senior Boarding Officer issues a "General Permit" upon placing the vessel under Customs control.
• The "General Permit" does not authorize loading export cargo or delivery of import cargo at ship's side without required permits or entries.
• The Customs Inspector endorses the General Permit, indicating whether all import cargoes have been discharged.
• Endorsements and returns on permits must be signed with printed name, and executed clearly, especially figures.
• Minor corrections on permits should be initialed by the endorsing officer.
• All other permits shall be endorsed on the reverse side.

Shipside Permits

• A Shipside Permit is an authority from the Collector of Customs (or Deputy Collector for Operations) for the Customs Inspector to allow discharge of cargoes at shipside onto lighters, under guard.
• The permit is required for the Customs Inspector assigned on a vessel to allow the discharge of cargoes specified on the permit at shipside unto lighters, underguard.

Three Kinds of Shipside Permits

Regular Shipside Permit

• Issued by the Deputy Collector for Operations for "regular shipside cargoes" as defined under existing regulations.

Special Shipside Permit

• Required when cargoes are not "regular shipside cargoes" (e.g., ballast, garbage, provisions, vessel parts for repair.
• The ship's agent must obtain authority from the Collector of Customs before processing and approval by the Deputy Collector for Operations.

Temporary Shipside Permit

• It is a written authority to discharge cargoes at shipside onto lighter as per order of the Collector of Customs.
• It is forwarded directly to the Customs Inspector of the carrying vessel without entry being filed.
• Issued as an emergency measure to avoid delaying ship operations and on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.
• Conditions typically imposed include:
  • Cargo being continuously under guarded until released by Customs.
  • The lighter not being moved from the Customs designated barge pool area until a Regular Shipside Permit is issued and presented.
  • Notification of the discharge under the Temporary Permit to the Deputy Collector for Operations/Chief, Piers and Inspection Division (PID).

Submission of e-Manifest: AIR FREIGHT

e-IFM (Inward Foreign Manifest)

• Port of Origin is Asia- 2 hours before arrival but for flights with less than 2 hours flying time, should not be less than 1 hour.

• Outside of Asia - 4 hours before arrival

• Port of Origin is Asia - upon arrival

• Outside of Asia - 4 hours before arrival

e-CCM (Cargo Consolidation Manifest)

• Port of origin is Asia - at least 1 hour before arrival

• Other ports - at least 2 hours before arrival

• If e-IFM submitted on time 1 hour after arrival

• If e-IFM is submitted late, the e-CCM shall be accepted provided that the time of submission in e2m shall not exceed 24 hours after e2m is registered by the Office of the Deputy Collector for Operations.

• The same privilege shall apply in case e- IFM is not validated on time (e.g. due to system errors or due to late encoding of date of last discharge)

Penalty for late submission and supplemental IFM/CCM

• Penalty same as sea freight
• Php1,000.00 for late submission and for supplemental manifest no penalty if submitted up to 24 hours after the cut-off time of e-lFM