By Tom S. Noda
Computerworld Philippines
September 11, 2009

The IT Association of the Philippines (ITAP) recently sought the help of the Optical Media Board (OMB) for the tariff charges imposed by the Bureau of Customs (BoC) on the shipments of software CDs of PC products.

In a meeting on Wednesday, ITAP members led by its president Victoria “Vicky” Agorrilla, who also sits as country general manager of Lenovo Philippines, told OMB chairman Edu Manzano that tariffs and taxes worth by the millions have been charged by BoC for the shipment of software CDs of PC products.

Agorrilla said the BoC would even hold software CDs that would arrive in the country following the delivery of PCs where they are intended for.

“Usually, PC products have software products also. But sometimes the shipment of CDs come in later and the BoC would charge tariffs. The CDs are actually part of the business purchases of PCs before,” Agorrilla said.

Manzano attended ITAP’s 4th general membership meeting in Makati City last Wednesday as its guest speaker, where he talked about OMB policies and updates. He was accompanied by OMB executive director lawyer Rosendo Meneses. OMB is the government’s arm for regulating the production of all optical discs in the country regardless of content.

Responding to ITAP’s appeal, Manzano advised the association to seek an alliance with OMB in order to clear CD shipment issues with BoC. The move is expected to iron out process on the shipment of PC software CDs, fast tracking their delivery and in getting rid of the tariff charges.

ITAP is a private non-profit association formed by popular product and service providers in the ICT industry such as Intel, Acer, IBM, Lenovo, EMC, Fujitsu, Microsoft, among others.

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