MALACAÑANG has endorsed for Senate concurrence the country’s accession to the Revised Kyoto Convention (RKC), paving the way for compliance to the treaty as early as April.
The treaty was handed to Senate president Manuel Villar at the Bureau of Customs’ 106th anniversary last week. It will be forwarded to the Foreign Relations committee chaired by Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago for hearing and approval.
Customs commissioner Napoleon Morales said immediate accession to the RKC would boost the country’s attractiveness to foreign investors and arrest the reputation of the BOC as one of the most corrupt government agencies.
“The end result of our accession to the RKC is more investors, larger cargo volume that will result in larger revenues for the BOC, and us addressing smuggling and resolving corruption as (the treaty) paves the way for less and less human transaction at the bureau,” he explained.
Morales said the shipping community, including the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Federation of Philippine Industries, Philippine Exporters Confederation, Port Users Confederation, Philippine International Seafreight Forwarders Association (PISFA) and Aircargo Forwarders of the Philippines, have long been lobbying for the country’s immediate accession to the treaty.
PISFA executive director Atty. Romeo Sto. Tomas told PortCalls the endorsement is welcome news to the industry.
He said the country’s compliance to the treaty will foster efficiency, transparency and accountability in Customs administration even as it contributes to reduced transaction costs and enhanced trade security.
