THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) under Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio, continues to expand its partnerships and engagements here and abroad to further boost its continuing reform program while enhancing its image as a world-class customs agency in the international front.
This thrust is evident in the last two months with the BOC’s participation and delivery of the Philippines’ ‘Country Report’ in Jakarta and participation in two important meetings of the World Customs Organization (WCO), where the BOC has always been an active member.
In between, the BOC also met with France’s chamber of commerce and industry in the Philippines (CCIFP) and hosted the US Export Control and Border Security (EXBS) and the US Homeland Security Investigation (HSI) to further strengthen the country’s border protection and security capabilities.
On February 8, 2024, Rubio, along with Deputy Commissioner for Intelligence (DCI) Juvymax Uy, Deputy Commissioner for Enforcement Atty. Teddy Raval and Import Assessment Service (IAS) Yasser Abbas were in Japan for the 5th session of the Regional High-Level Roundtable on the Enhancement of Data Intelligence and Analysis and Regional Cooperation Network under the Regional Intelligence Liaison Offices (RILO) of the World Customs Organization covering the entire Asia-Pacific Region (WCO-A/P).
The occasion also marked the transfer of the RILO AsPac Office from Korea to Japan, which the former has held for the last 12 years.
“With Japan as the new host, the Philippines is confident that this cooperation will carry on and build upon the achievements made in the past,” the BOC chief said.
Rubio also underscored the outcomes of the BOC’s bureau’s unceasing campaign to curb smuggling in all its forms, noting that thru the Intelligence Group headed by Uy and with the support of RILO, the Philippines recorded the unprecedented amount of P43.295 billion worth of smuggled goods in 2023. The figure is the highest thus far in the country’s history.
Rubio also said that, moving forward, the BOC expects RILO to provide its members with operational and reach-back intelligence support, implement target-oriented analysis projects, foster collaborative information exchange, and provide capacity-building, modern tools and platforms for information exchange.
“We are certain that under the guidance of Japan Customs, we will be able to reinforce effective information gathering and exchange, bolster enforcement, and ultimately strengthen ties among one another,” Rubio concluded.
Meanwhile, in Jakarta, Indonesia, the BOC also attended the 35TH ASEAN Customs Enforcement and Compliance Working Group Meeting (ASEAN CECWG) from February 20 to February 22, where in led the discussion on the 1ST Joint Customs Control (JCC) Operation.
The PH delegation thru Special Agent II Anthony Escandor from the Enforcement Group (EG), shared a detailed report on post clearance audit cases highlighting the seizure of shipments, specifically those related to cigarettes, e-cigarettes and other tobacco products the BOC encountered from November 13, 2023 to January 24, 2024.
The CECWG serves as a platform for participants to exchange information and intelligence sharing regarding suspected illicit tobacco trade among concerned states.
The gathering was chaired by Mohammad Furiman, Director of the Royal Malaysian Customs Department (RMCD). Other participants came from the representatives of ASEAN Member States (AMS), Dialogue Partners and the ASEAN Secretariat.
More collaborations, engagements
Even as the ASEAN CEGWG is ongoing, a Philippine customs delegation led by Assistant Commissioner Vincent Philip Maronilla, were in Brussels, Belgium to actively participate in the 15TH Session of the WCO Capacity Building Committee (CBC) from February 21 to February 24.
Accompanied by acting Deputy Commissioner for Internal Administration Group (IAG) Michael Fermin and COO 5 Atty. Maria Minerva Aldave, the group actively contributed to the discussions as one of the beneficiaries of the WCO capacity building program.
By WCO invitation, the PH delegation presented the highlights of the BOC’s achievements in the Leadership and Management Development Programme.
The BOC attributed its success to the support it received through the WCO-led capacity workshops.
These initiatives, aimed at refining management and governance strategies, addressed various technical, operational, and strategic requirements, resulting in increased efficiency and effectiveness of individuals within the bureau.
In a statement last March 7, the BOC also announced the successful visit to the agency of the representatives from the WCO and the revenue and customs agency of the UK, His Majesty Revenue and Customs (HMRC).
The foreign delegation was met by Comm. Rubio, DCI Uy and other key agency officials.
The visit was in relation to the WCO’s multi-year ‘Mercator Programme’ partnership and risk management ‘stocktaking session’ funded by the HRMC.
The Mercator Programme is aimed at assisting governments worldwide to implement trade facilitation measures expeditiously and in a harmonized manner by using core WCO instruments and tools such as the Revised Kyoto Convention.
The collaboration between the BOC, WCO, and HRMC signifies a concerted effort to leverage international expertise and best practices in bolstering risk management frameworks.
As the month of February ended, Comm. Rubio also met with Kevin Charuel, Managing Director, Chamber of Commerce and Industry France Philippines (CCIFP) last February 27.
To show the importance of the meeting, Rubio brought with him two deputy commissioners–
Deputy Commissioner Vener Baquiran, Assessment and Operations Coordinating Group (AOCG) and, Deputy Commissioner Clarence Dizon, Revenue Collection Monitoring Group (RCMG).
Atty. Jenny P. Diokno, Officer-in-Charge, Port Operations Service, is also part of the BOC entourage.
The meeting covered various activities, including a presentation of BOC’s accomplishments and priority programs. The bureau showcased its achievements in 2023 and outlined plans and programs for the current year.
Meanwhile, as part of its effort to enhance the country’s border protection and security capabilities, the BOC also sat down with representatives from the US Export Control and Border Security and the US Homeland Security Investigation.
In a statement on March 11, the BOC said the meeting falls within the framework of an ‘exchange visit’ between the two sides.
The meeting aimed to address emerging border security trends and challenges to fortify mutual security measures.
It also intends to encourage the initiation of dialogue among enforcement agencies in the Philippines and their foreign counterparts.
The EXBS was represented by Regional Advisor Ransom J. Avila, and the HSI, by Mr. Stephen Richardson.
Rubio acknowledged the assistance of the United States to the agency that resulted to the successful apprehensions of smuggled and illicit goods.