The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has received valuable support from the Philippine Trade Training Center (PTTC) and the EU-funded ARISE Plus Philippines Project to enhance its trade facilitation strategies, particularly in aiding Philippine micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).

Under Output 4 of the ARISE Plus Philippines Project, focused on strengthening trade facilitation capacities to implement the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA) and the World Trade Organization – Trade Facilitation Agreement (WTO-TFA), the BOC and PTTC have agreed to jointly conduct a workshop. This workshop, scheduled for August, aims to introduce emerging trade facilitation tools and initiatives to the Philippine Trade Facilitation Committee (PTFC).

Facilitated in partnership with the ARISE Plus Philippines Project, the workshop seeks to raise awareness among PTFC agencies about WTO-TFA and CMTA provisions, as well as the Philippines’ trade facilitation commitments under the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC).

Key agenda items include discussions on the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) Program and Integrated Risk Management (IRM), emphasizing their crucial roles in trade facilitation. The workshop will also showcase the PTTC-ARISE Plus Training Platform, designed to equip MSMEs with comprehensive knowledge on export rules and procedures.

Follow-up activities between BOC and PTTC will explore further support for implementing the PTFC Roadmap, aimed at reducing trade transaction costs and enhancing MSME participation in international and regional value chains.

Under Commissioner Bienvenido Y. Rubio, the Bureau of Customs supports collaborative efforts and capacity-building initiatives to modernize customs procedures, fostering an efficient and transparent environment that benefits both MSMEs and the economy.