The Bureau of Customs (BOC), the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) and the Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc. (PhilExport) have renewed their commitment to work together on trade facilitation, ease of doing business and digital transformation to strengthen the Philippines’ economic competitiveness.
BOC Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno said in a meeting with PCCI and PhilExport leaders that reforms are designed to improve service delivery, reduce processing delays and position export facilitation as a key driver of national economic growth.
Private sector leaders expressed full support for the BOC’s digitalization agenda, citing its role in enhancing efficiency, transparency and ease of doing business.
“The chamber fully supports Commissioner Nepomuceno’s leadership and his efforts to modernize the system. Through this collaboration, we can streamline processes, reduce trade barriers and foster a more competitive environment for businesses,” said PCCI president George Barcelon.
The meeting also addressed policy and operational issues, including a proposed Customs Amnesty Program, improved monitoring of import duties, and the urgent need to expedite the disposal of overstaying containers to ease port congestion and prevent supply chain disruptions. All parties agreed that addressing these concerns is crucial for smoother trade flows.
“We appreciate the Commissioner’s strong focus on trade facilitation, particularly for exports and MSMEs. Leveraging digitalization to streamline Customs processes is a decisive step toward eliminating bottlenecks and enhancing our export performance,” said PCCI chairman emeritus Sergio Ortiz-Luis Jr.
As a tangible outcome, the organizations agreed to set up a public-private technical working group (TWG) to institutionalize dialogue and advance the proposed policy and operational reforms, ensuring continuous coordination and timely progress.
