The Bureau of Customs (BOC) and ARISE Plus Philippines recently organized a comprehensive “Integrated Risk Management (IRM) Awareness, Risk Analysis, and Treatment Workshop” for key officials from the BOC Risk Management Office (RMO) and frontline officers handling licenses and permits in collaboration with Trade Regulatory Government Agencies (TRGAs).

Aligned with the ARISE Plus Philippines Project objectives of strengthening trade facilitation, the workshop aimed to enhance the Bureau of Customs’ (BOC) readiness to comply with its commitments under the World Trade Organization – Trade Facilitation Agreement (WTO-TFA), the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA), and emerging national and international requirements.

In collaboration with the International Trade Center (ITC), the workshops were designed to provide a more in-depth discussion and holistic approach on how to improve the traditional risk and governance strategies of the BOC RMO.

Customs officials actively participated in hands-on exercises, engaging with various business cases. These exercises focused on establishing the foundational elements for successfully implementing a risk analytics strategy, covering discussions on defining risk descriptions, identifying risk areas, and establishing trigger criteria for risk profiles. Participants also presented practical risk treatments, risk registers, and explored innovative approaches to risk management.

Ms. Chisa-Hasiena C. Mamowalas, Officer-in-Charge of the Risk Management Office (RMO), emphasized the significance of incorporating elements advocated by the BOC RMO in her opening remarks “Risk-based decision-making is most effective when incorporating the Integrated Risk Management’s advocated elements, including synergy among TRGAs and customs and the application of robust ICT systems. This session will underscore the importance of integrating risk management procedures among all agencies involved in national border control, emphasizing data-sharing, coordination, and efficient systems for assessing risks.”

The Commissioner Bienvenido Y. Rubio stated that “this initiative is crucial as it equips our officials with skills that will help us facilitate smoother trade processes, which is significant to our agency’s 5-Point Priority Program.”