Apeco banks on new export-import freeport accreditation

The Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (Apeco) expects to unlock pending investments as the Bureau of Customs (BOC) formally recognized it as an importing and exporting freeport zone with authority to accredit traders.

In a memorandum issued on April 6, Customs Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno amended earlier rules to include Apeco among government agencies authorized to accredit importers and exporters under the Customs Client Profile Registration System (CPRS).

This order also formally lists Apeco as a recognized free zone authority, alongside two other new entrants: Poro Point Management Corp. in La Union and John Hay Management Corp. in Baguio.

Apeco president and CEO Gil Taway IV said the move addresses a key bottleneck for prospective locators, particularly those dependent on import-export operations.

“This development is expected to unlock pending investments and fast-track decision-making among our prospective locators,” he said in a statement. “Some investors have been waiting for this formal recognition before proceeding with their projects, particularly those with import-export requirements.”

The CPRS is a mandatory registration system for importers and exporters transacting with the BOC. Under previous rules, Apeco locators had to coordinate with multiple agencies to secure accreditation.

Now, the policy allows Apeco to facilitate CPRS accreditation directly, enabling faster activation of importer and exporter profiles and streamlining customs transactions for firms operating within the ecozone.

Separately, the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) welcomed another BOC measure extending the validity of import accreditation from one year to three years, a move aimed at reducing costs and simplifying procedures.

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“This development helps reduce administrative barriers, allowing our local industries to focus on economic productivity,” the ECCP said in a statement on Wednesday.

“We commend this decisive step toward a more competitive, transparent and efficient trade environment that aligns perfectly with the national goal of sustainable economic growth,” it added. INQ

Under Customs Administrative Order No. 01-2026, the accreditation fee has also been revised to a one-time payment of P5,000 for the three-year period, replacing the previous P2,000 annual fee. This allows importers to save about P1,000 over three years.