Customs Bureau needs essential reforms, says EU head in PHL

Reforms at the Bureau of Customs (BOC) as the entry point for international trade are essential if the Philippines is aiming to be a hub for trade and investments, the European Union (EU) head in the country said Tuesday. The EU is supporting key reforms in customs procedures to ease the entry of goods from the international market, particularly those of EU members, said Ambassador Guy Ledoux, head of the EU delegation to the Philippines. Ledoux met with Customs Commissioner Rufino Biazon on the agency’s reform agenda that includes automation of customs procedures. Biazon said reforms in customs procedures aim to facilitate transactions, help customers avoid losses and encourage them to do more trade with the Philippines. The bureau welcomes the EU support, especially on the possible participation of international experts that can cite best practices on customs operation, the Customs chief said. Because of increasing concerns on the corruption of Customs officials, the EU delegation and other international donor communities are seeking key reforms in Philippine customs procedures. “While accepting that real challenges remain, the EU supports the bureau in its efforts to deal with these challenges to become a modern and effective institution fit for the 21st century," said Ledoux told Biazon during their meeting. Since 2007, the EU has allocated €1.6 Million (P96 million) worth of grants under its Trade Related Technical Assistance Program for the BOC to institute reforms that include the Risk Management System and the National Single Window designed to make the bureau function more efficiently and minimize situations that breeds corruption. Biazon said the full automation of customs procedures will raise the level of integrity among Customs officials and turn the bureau’s services more efficient and business friendly. The EU’s 27 member states — that include, among others, Germany, France, Spain and Italy, is now the largest export market of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations with exports mounting to €60 billion in 2010. In the last give year, the EU has also become the Philippines largest single export market, with Philippine exports rising by over 40 percent to €5.4 billion in 2010. — VS, GMA News