The Bureau of Customs and the World Customs Organization successfully completed a five-day session focused on analyzing internal corruption risks and ways of mapping it out. The mission took place from September 23 to 27, 2024, and involved experts from the World Customs Organization (WCO). This initiative, conducted under the Accelerate Trade Facilitation Programme, as supported by the United Kingdom’s His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs, aimed to further strengthen the BOC’s anti-corruption and integrity measures.

During his welcome speech, BOC Commissioner Bienvenido Y. Rubio expressed his appreciation for the valuable contributions of international partners, particularly the WCO and Turkish Customs, in reinforcing the agency’s efforts to combat corruption. Commissioner Rubio stated, “We acknowledge that our engagement is crucial in fulfilling the activities and deliverables set for this mission. In this regard, we affirm our commitment to address issues of integrity in our regulatory and legal acts, core operational processes, and support and administrative processes.”

Throughout the five-day mission, participants analyzed the results of the pilot implementation of the Standard Operating Procedures for the Conduct of Internal Analysis of Corruption Risks and considered recommendations to address identified risks in legal and regulatory acts, core operational processes, and support and administrative processes. The pilot implementation of the SOP was conducted by the Port of Manila, Manila International Container Port, Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Ports of Batangas, Cebu, and Davao.

Field visits to strategic customs offices, including the Port of Manila and Ninoy Aquino International Airport, provided participants with the opportunity to observe BOC operations firsthand, strengthening their understanding of the challenges and successes in maintaining integrity across its processes. The mission also facilitated discussions with private sector representatives, emphasizing the importance of public-private collaboration in promoting transparency within customs procedures.

The mission concluded with the finalization of the SOP and a number of recommendations to be incorporated in the Integrity Action Plan. These outcomes reflect the BOC’s continuous effort to refine its anti-corruption strategies, ensuring that the agency upholds the highest standards of governance and accountability. Through the support of its international partners and sustained internal reforms, the BOC remains committed to fostering a culture of integrity within its ranks.