Bureau of Customs (BOC) Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno is pushing for the rollout of the Electronic Airway Bill (e-AWB) to eliminate bottlenecks, reduce delays, cut costs, and modernize cargo processing for exports.
The Commissioner said the e-AWB has been President Marcos Jr.’s directive to drive faster and more efficient trade processes.
The initiative is expected to deliver immediate gains for exporters by shortening clearance times, minimizing paperwork, and improving coordination across the logistics chain. By digitizing cargo documentation and enabling real-time data exchange among shippers, freight forwarders, airlines, and BOC offices, the e-AWB system will help eliminate bottlenecks and support smoother, more predictable export operations.
With faster processing and improved data accuracy, the system is also seen to strengthen the country’s trade competitiveness, making it easier for businesses to move goods efficiently while ensuring compliance and transparency.
Recently, the BOC – Ninoy Aquino International Airport, led by Deputy Collector for Operations Atty. Wilnora L. Cawile, together with Acting Director Atty. Maria Liza T. Sebastian of the Planning and System Development of the Management Information Systems and Technology Group, conducted a public consultation and stakeholder dialogue to present the proposed Proof of Concept (POC) and gather industry input.
The consultation brought together more than a hundred participants, including representatives from the Philippine Multimodal Transport and Logistics Association, Inc. (PMTLAI), Airline Operators Council (AOC), freight forwarders, airline operators, shippers, and other stakeholders.
Industry participants provided constructive feedback on operational processes and identified areas for further enhancement, particularly in strengthening automation and system integration to support end-to-end digital transactions.
Present at the event was Department of Trade and Industry Undersecretary Mary Jean Pacheco, a staunch supporter of the e-AWB initiative, who conveyed her strong support for its implementation as a key step toward more efficient and digitalized trade processes.
Stakeholders likewise acknowledged the BOC’s ongoing reforms and modernization initiatives, noting improvements in trade facilitation and service efficiency.
The initiative forms part of the BOC’s broader modernization program, aligning customs processes with global standards and supporting the administration’s push for faster, technology-driven government services. The Bureau is now moving toward the finalization of the e-AWB system and the corresponding implementing rules and regulations, with the goal of completing the rollout within the year.
“With the Electronic Airway Bill, we aim to remove unnecessary delays and make it easier for stakeholders to move goods efficiently and transparently. This forms part of our commitment to a customs service that is modern, connected, and responsive to the needs of trade,” the Commissioner said.
Commissioner Nepomuceno has reiterated the BOC’s mantra under his term: Integrity, Accountability, and Modernization (IAM) Movement. This mantra, he said, should enable faster, more secure, and more responsive trade facilitation, while supporting national development and strengthening public trust in government service delivery.
