As the Bureau of Customs (BOC) bolsters the nation’s border security measures and trade facilitation, the X-ray Inspection Project (XIP) achieved a 132% increase in its scanning rate performance from 2019 to 2021.
In 2019, the Bureau had 365,858 scanned containers for the year, with a monthly average of 30,587 scanned containers. Meanwhile in 2020, the total scanned containers increased to 513,474, having an average of 42,790 scanned containers per month. Within 2019 to 2020, the XIP was able to improve its scanning rate performance by 40%.
Further improving its efficiency in 2021, a total of 840,950 scanned containers were accounted for, having a monthly average of 70,663 scanned containers. From 2020 to 2021, the XIP was able to achieve an impressive 65% increase in its performance.
The constant improvement of the Bureau’s operational performance is mainly attributed to the procurement of additional mobile x-ray machines. In 2021, four (4) new machines were deployed to ports with high-volume scanning operations, namely, the Manila International Container Port, Port of Cebu, Port of Subic, and Port of Cagayan De Oro. These advanced additional assets are capable of scanning 120 containers per hour while producing clearer pictures of scanned items which will aid the BOC in identifying smuggled agricultural products and other commodities in a shorter period of time.
Under the leadership of Commissioner Rey Leonardo B. Guerrero, the BOC will continue its rigorous efforts and initiatives towards modernizing its processes to provide effective and efficient customs services to the public.
