The government’s online platform which seeks to computerize and speed up the processes involved in the issuance of permits for imports and exports is expected to be launched and to be fully operational by December, the Department of Finance said.

The TradeNet System seeks to reduce the time it takes to get approval from government agencies for the trade of goods from several months, to three days, to eventually, one hour.

“We did a pilot test with TradeNet last July along with the consultant for the Asean Single Window. It was a successful test. We were able to send and receive documents. So by December we will go online. It is now being tested. We want to make sure that there will be no foul ups before we interconnect. We try to find out if all different types of software can be used to access the system,” Gil Beltran, finance undersecretary, said.

Beltran noted the software used for the system is developed by Filipino experts.

“We use Filipino experts, they are very good. We are able to save 16 to 17 percent by using our own people,” Beltran said.

“Along with the development of the software, there will be cybersecurity safeguards. We will also input some programs that will protect the system because we don’t want anyone hacking and putting to waste all the files in the system,” he added.

Beltran said a total of 66 agencies plus 10 ecozones will be connected to the system.

“Some others want to join also, like the Metro Manila Development Authority, they want to see when the shipments go out (so that) there will be no congestion in the streets,” he said.

Beltran said when imports go through licensing, it has to go through several agencies, thus the need to interconnnect all of them with the Bureau of Customs (BOC).

“To make it work, the importer will go to his computer, (and submit necessary requirements which will go to his) import regulator, then the regulator will pass it on to the BOC. Everything is computerized, the importer will just have to get his importations,” Beltran earlier said.

“Under the Civil service rules, simple processes should take only three days,” he said.

Under the manual system, Beltran noted it usually takes months for the entire process.

“You are lucky if you get it,” Beltran previously said, adding some would even resort to bribing to speed up the procedures.

“We will reduce the time it takes to do everything, from three days, to two days, to eventually one hour, that’s the objective,” Beltran said.