Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Y. Rubio said its collaboration with the United Nation’s His Majesty’s Revenue & Customs (HMRC) will further boost the Bureau of Customs push to enhance trade facilitation and regulatory compliance for the Philippines’ improved participation in the global supply chains.
Rubio said this following the success of a five-day mission on the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) Program from February 17-21, 2025. This is under the Accelerate Trade Facilitation Programme, supported by the United Kingdom’s His Majesty’s Revenue & Customs (HMRC), the Bureau of Customs (BOC), in partnership with World Customs Organization (WCO).
“I want to emphasize that strengthening stakeholder compliance through our AEO Program is a key element of our 5-Point Priority Program,” he said. “This mission is crucial as it will help us evaluate our AEO Program, build the capacity of our AEO Officers, and improve our public service delivery.”
This initiative, funded by the UK’s HMRC, focuses on sharing best practices, aligning the Philippines’ AEO framework with international standards, and improving trade facilitation efforts to ensure secure and efficient global supply chains.
The mission is in line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s commitment to modernizing customs operations and boosting the country’s trade competitiveness. His administration has consistently prioritized global partnerships to improve risk management, expedite clearance procedures, and strengthen trade facilitation. The collaboration with WCO and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) underscores the government’s dedication to implementing international best practices in customs administration.
“The presence of our experts, who have traveled across the globe to assist us, highlights our shared vision of strengthening customs-to-business partnerships and enhancing global trade efficiency,” said Rubio.
The event was also attended by key BOC officials, including Deputy Commissioner for the Assessment and Operations Coordinating Group, Atty. Vener Baquiran; BOC-Ninoy Aquino International Airport District Collector Atty. Yasmin O. Mapa; Export Coordination Chief and AEO Interim Office Head, Atty. Jenny P. Diokno; and Head of the External Affairs Office, Coll. Rechilda Oquias.
Deputy Commissioner Baquiran highlighted the significance of expanding the AEO Program: “As we continue to promote the AEO Program, this mission comes at an ideal time. The knowledge shared by our experts will help refine the Philippine AEO Program, improve its accreditation criteria, and extend its benefits to a broader range of stakeholders.”
The mission featured in-depth discussions led by WCO experts Ms. Pelisa Matyumza, Ms. Trudy Rutland, and Ms. Nozomi Ijima, along with Mr. Shigeaki Katsu from JICA. Key topics included the strategic objectives of the AEO Program, global frameworks, supply chain security, risk management, and strategies for expanding stakeholder participation. The sessions also provided an opportunity to review and update the BOC’s AEO Manual, incorporating global best practice recommendations.
Atty. Diokno shared valuable insights on Japan’s AEO framework and highlighted the significant benefits the Philippine customs administration has gained through JICA’s technical assistance, particularly in enhancing trade facilitation and security measures.
This intensive five-day mission reinforced the BOC’s commitment to continuous collaboration with stakeholders to refine policies, enhance security measures, and ensure the AEO framework contributes to a more efficient and resilient trade environment. The BOC expresses its gratitude to the WCO, JICA, and industry partners for their invaluable contributions, marking another important step in the Philippines’ ongoing trade facilitation efforts.
