Reformed Customs Bureau to play major role in ASEAN integration

Malacanang said it is confident that the Bureau of Customs would do its part effectively as the country becomes part of a more integrated Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

President Aquino appointed Alberto Lina as the new chief of the Bureau of Customs following the resignation of Sunny Sevilla who initiated several reform measures at the bureau.

"Para po sa atin, patuloy po ang trabaho sa Bureau of Customs," Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr said.

"Determinado si Commissioner Alberto Lina na ipagpatuloy at tapusin ang mga repormang nasimulan na diyan at gawing mahalaga ang paglahok ng Bureau of Customs sa overall economic [performance] po natin, lalung-lalong na doon sa nabanggit na ASEAN integration na kung saan sa trade facilitation ay malaki ang papel na ginagampanan ng Bureau of Customs," Coloma said.

But Coloma explained that the government's thrust with regards to ASEAN integration is through concerted efforts by different government agencies and the BOC is one of those entities.

The BOC plays a major role in trade facilitation because it handles the entry of goods in the country's airports and seaports, he added.

Coloma also mentioned the reform measures being carried out at the BOC.

"Sa mga nakaraang taon ay pinalakas na po natin ang ating mga sistema, binago natin ang ating mga patakaran," he said.

"Kaya hindi naman po iisang ahensiya lang ang concerned dito. Team effort po ito ng ating pamahalaan at hindi po natitinag ang ating determinasyon na maging maayos ang paglahok ng Pilipinas sa ASEAN economic integration," Coloma added. (PCOO News Release)