EU grants P453 M technical grant for BOC modernization

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines will receive P453 million from the European Union (EU) under its expanded Trade Related Technical Assistance (TRTA) project aimed at helping the Philippines meet international trading standards and assisting in the modernization of the Bureau of Customs.

The third installment of the program, dubbed as TRTA3, would be implemented beginning this year until 2016. It is preceded by TRTA 1 which was implemented from 2005 to 2008 with funding of 3.5 million euros and TRTA 2 which was implemented from 2008 to 2012 with funding of 6.5 million euros.

In his address during the program launch in Makati City, EU Ambassador Guy Ledoux said the TRTA 3 would focus on providing assistance on the development and implementation of competition policies.

“No strong and sustainable growth can be attained without proper competition which reduces the prices and increases the quality of goods and services, boosts the export capacity, and ensures a level playing field that attracts foreign investors” said Ledoux.

He said the project would particularly support the development of competition policies in the telecommunication, energy and the maritime transport sectors.

He said the project would also promote the adoption and implementation of a Customs Modernization Law.

Customs Commissioner Ruffy Biazon said President Aquino will support the filing in the incoming Congress of the Customs Modernization Bill which would involve amending the Tariff and Customs Code.

Reforms being readied for the BOC include privatizing some of the bureau’s functions and possibly giving it fiscal independence by allowing it to use a portion of its collections.

“It will notably carry out a gap analysis of the draft bill versus the standards and recommended practices of the Kyoto Convention,” he said.

Under the Revised Kyoto Convention, transparency and predictability in Customs procedures should be observed to ensure smoother movement of goods. The convention also calls for maximized use of information technology, as well as prudent risk management and audit-based controls.

Through the Department of Agriculture, the project would also continue to provide assistance to producers of fruits, vegetables, mollusks and other fisheries products in meeting international sanitary and phytosanitary standards (SPS).