The Philippines has signed customs cooperation agreements with the Russian Federation and the Netherlands in a move the Bureau of Customs said would boost its campaign against all forms of smuggling, commercial fraud and transnational crimes.
On May 8, the BOC will also host the official launch of the ASEAN Single Window portal, a Web-based interactive facility that will give the public access to information about the ASEAN Single Window and National Single Window of each member of the regional grouping.
The pacts with Russia and the Netherlands would initiate information exchanges for the benefit of all countries and provide assistance in the areas of trade statistics, customs law enforcement, human resource development, technical know-how and trade facilitation, Customs Commissioner Rozzano Rufino Biazon said.
These were the second and third such agreements entered into by the BOC since he took office in September 2011. The first pact was with Mexico.
Biazon said the country’s agreement with Moscow “is expected to enhance cooperation between the customs agencies of the Philippines and Russia … to prevent breaches of customs laws and protect their economic, fiscal, social and commercial interests…”
The Moscow-Manila accord was signed in Manila on April 24. The Philippines was represented by Biazon and Marichu Mauro, Department of Foreign Affairs executive director for European Affairs. Russia was represented by Ambassador Nikolay Kudashev and Vladimir Malinin, Russian Embassy deputy head for federal customs service.
On April 25, Biazon signed the customs cooperation agreement with the Netherlands. Director Hans Van Bodegraven of the Dutch Directorate General for Tax and Customs Policy Legislation signed on behalf of his government.
Meanwhile, the ASEAN Web Portal will be launched at the Manila Peninsula Hotel on May 8. The event will be attended by delegates from the ASEAN countries, government agencies involved in the Philippine NSW project, and other guests.
The ASW Portal will enhance the ability of NSWs to expedite clearance through the electronic exchange of data among regulatory agencies as well as traders.
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