The Philippines Pioneers Corruption Risk Mapping to Strengthen Integrity and Trade Facilitation in Customs

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The mission, part of a blended approach to capacity building, took place from 23-27 September 2024 under the auspices of the multi-year strategic partnership with the WCO Accelerate Trade Facilitation Programme, funded by the United Kingdom's His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs, to support the BOC in strengthening its anti-corruption and integrity initiatives.

This is the first time the BOC has utilized such a comprehensive internal risk analysis method developed under the WCO's Accelerate Trade Facilitation Programme.

The mission evaluated the pilot implementation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for Internal Analysis of Corruption Risks.

These SOPs, created in collaboration with the WCO and integrity experts from Türkiye and Pakistan, were piloted at key Customs offices, such as the Port of Manila, Manila International Container Port, Ninoy Aquino International Airport, and the Ports of Batangas, Cebu, and Davao.

BOC Commissioner Bienvenido Y. Rubio expressed deep appreciation for the collaborative efforts of international partners, emphasizing the importance of integrity in Customs operations.

The Commissioner welcomed the comprehensive scope of the analysis that was conducted, covering the risks related to regulatory and legal acts, main Customs operational processes, and support and administrative processes functions of the Bureau.

The outcomes of this initiative will directly feed into the BOC’s updated Integrity Action Plan, further aligning with the WCO’s Revised Arusha Declaration on Good Governance.

This underscores the BOC’s commitment to fostering a culture of integrity to support further implementation of trade facilitation reforms.

As part of the mission, the WCO experts participated in the BOC's 7th Customs Industry Consultative and Advisory Council (CICAC) meeting on 27 September 2024.

This Council brings together key stakeholders from the supply chain sectors and plays a crucial role in enhancing trade facilitation by fostering “Customs – Business” collaboration and addressing stakeholder concerns.

The BOC recognized the organizational development support on Leadership & Management Development and Integrity development provided under the Accelerate Trade Facilitation Programme as crucial for implementing the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA).

Building a strong organizational culture is essential for sustaining momentum and ensuring the long-term success of trade facilitation reforms.

The Customs Industry Consultative and Advisory Council was launched in February 2024 as a direct result of the WCO support, and it serves as a significant milestone in driving trade reforms and engaging the private sector in the process.