Bureau of Customs (BOC) Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno reaffirmed his commitment to building a stronger partnership with the country’s export sector as he addressed members of the Philippine Exporters Confederation (PhilExport).
Speaking before exporters from various industries at the recent PhilExport General Membership Meeting, Commissioner Nepomuceno shared his vision of transforming the BOC into a trusted partner of the Philippine export community, assuring stakeholders of the agency’s continuous reforms. He emphasized that these efforts are aligned with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to enhance the country’s competitiveness, facilitate legitimate trade, and create a more business-friendly environment that supports economic growth and attracts greater investment.
“We fully know that we can help you, exporters. Panahon na ngayon na bigyan natin ng mas mabigat na timbang ang ating bansa. Ipinapangako namin sainyo, hindi po ako mapapahiya sainyo. Trust us that we will help you thrive while we wait for the full digitalization of the processes. We will deal with your concerns as if your business is our business. Iisa ang ating bansa, tutulungan namin pagandahin ang negosyo niyo dahil in the process, we will become a more proud country,” the Commissioner said.
PhilExport officials welcomed the agency’s reform agenda and expressed their appreciation for the government’s proactive engagement with the export sector. They noted that the strengthened collaboration between government and industry marks a positive shift in fostering a more responsive business environment and conveyed their support for the BOC’s ongoing modernization initiatives, recognizing their contributions to improving trade facilitation, enhancing efficiency, and strengthening the country’s global competitiveness.
Commissioner Nepomuceno also highlighted the agency’s ongoing modernization initiatives, explaining that the BOC aims to make customs transactions more efficient and technology-driven, comparable to the convenience and reliability of modern banking applications. While full digitalization remains a continuing objective, he noted that the agency has already implemented key reforms, including extending the validity of importer, exporters, and brokers accreditation from one year to three years, establishing the Top Importers Office to provide more focused engagement and better support for compliant importers, streamlining customs processes, and pursuing internal organizational reforms to strengthen integrity and reduce opportunities for corruption.
The BOC stressed that stakeholder engagement remains a cornerstone of the agency’s modernization efforts, reaffirming the agency’s commitment to maintaining open communication and working closely with the business community as a true partner in trade.
