The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has formally assumed the chairmanship of the Brunei Darussalam–Indonesia–Malaysia–Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) Trade Facilitation Cluster. The transition took place during the cluster’s third meeting in August 2025 in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Representing the Philippines, Mr. Mark C. Quiñones of the BOC officially succeeded Datuk Noor Alam Khan bin A. Wahid Khan of Malaysia’s Prime Minister’s Department will lead the key cluster, which focuses on strengthening collaboration among Customs, Immigration, Quarantine, and Security (CIQS) agencies to drive regional economic growth.
In his handover address, Mr. Quiñones thanked his predecessor and expressed a firm commitment to an inclusive and results-oriented chairmanship. “The Philippines will work to ensure that the Trade Facilitation Cluster continues to advance our long-term aspirations under the BIMP-EAGA Vision 2035,” he stated.
Under the leadership of Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno, the Bureau of Customs remains dedicated to enhancing regional connectivity and streamlining cross-border processes. The BOC’s chairmanship will focus on making trade facilitation a primary driver of sustainable growth and development within the BIMP-EAGA subregion.
