MANILA, Philippines, September 13, 2012 –The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has tapped PLDT ALPHA Enterprise to connect its 15 major ports and 27 sub-ports nationwide via a wide area network (WAN) as part of efforts to utilize technology in strengthening integrity and improving efficiency within the government revenue-generating agency.
In a ceremonial signing ceremony held recently, BOC Commissioner Ruffy Biazon said PLDT would be able to help the Bureau in performing its mandate of raising revenues for the government while sustaining integrity efforts through technology.

“We need a reliable technology partner and PLDT gives us that confidence that will help us perform and improve our services to our customers,” Biazon said.
Under the agreement, PLDT will connect BOC’s 15 major ports via a 1mbps redundant line while the 27 sub-ports will be linked using 512kbps connection through an Internet Protocol Virtual Private Network (IPVPN) solution.

“We are in agreement with the Bureau of Customs that technology will enable them to achieve their mandates to their constituents and we are keen to partner with the BOC in this project. The Bureau of Customs is a very vital agency in the nation’s quest for sustainable economic development,” said Ernesto R. Alberto, EVP and Head of PLDT/SMART Enterprise and International Carrier Business.

He added that the PLDT Group has made considerable investments in its network not only to serve our commercial ends but to do our part in nation-building as well.
PLDT ALPHA Enterprise will also provide managed services for switches, routers, monitoring equipment, WiFi, and VoIP equipment under the agreement with the BOC.

Jonathan Soriano, BOC Director of Management Information Service and Technology Group, said the Bureau is also looking for videoconferencing solutions that would help the Commissioner in communicating with the customs collectors nationwide.

BOC Commissioner Biazon and Director Soriano were also shown the Telepresence videoconferencing facility of PLDT following the ceremonial signing with live demonstration together with partners from Singapore and PLDT executives in Cebu.

BOC and PLDT are exploring other technologies to further enhance operational efficiencies, like video conferencing and document management systems.

The BOC is one of the Philippine government’s main revenue collection agencies, accounting for around 20% of total national government revenues. Its main functions are to enhance revenue collection, provide quality service to stakeholders with professionalism and integrity, facilitate trade in a secured manner, effectively curb smuggling, and comply with international best practices and standards.