EU extends P773M aid to Bureau of Customs, civil society groups in PH

MANILA, Philippines—The 27-nation European Union (EU) has allocated over 13 million euros (about P773 million) to key reform programs of the Bureau of Customs (BoC), as well as civil society projects in the country.

Under the EU-Philippines Trade-Related Technical Assistance Program, at least 7.5 million euros (about P435 million) has been set aside for the BOC’s reform initiatives and programs aimed at reducing poverty in the Philippines through expanded trade.

Earlier, the EU released 1.6 million euros (about P96 million) to finance the agency’s risk management system and the setting up of what it called the “National Single Window,” which has been tasked to “process import clearances through a single online portal to which government agencies are connected.”

During a recent meeting with Customs Commissioner Ruffy Biazon at the BoC headquarters in Manila, EU Ambassador to the Philippines Guy Ledoux “reaffirmed EU support to key reform efforts of the bureau.”

“While accepting that real challenges remain, the EU supports the bureau in its efforts to deal with these challenges to become a modern and effective institution fit for the 21st century,” said Ledoux.

The diplomat noted that “the BoC is the entry point for international trade in the country. It plays a key role in the Philippines’ efforts to further strengthen its position as a hub for trade and investment.”

For his part, Biazon said, “Through automation, we want to make customs procedures more efficient and business-friendly while also increasing integrity.”

“We welcome the EU’s continued support to the bureau’s reform agenda. The bureau is keen to tap international expertise and best practices for the key challenges of customs operations,” he said.

Biazon assured the EU diplomat the BoC would try its best to “facilitate transactions as fast as we can in order to help our clients and customers avoid losses.”

“In doing so, we hope to enable and encourage them to do more trade (with the Philippines),” he added.

With 2010 exports amounting to 60 billion euros, the EU is the Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ largest export market with exports.

“The EU has also become the Philippines’ largest single export market during the last five years. Last year, Philippine exports to the EU expanded by over 40 percent to 5.4 billion euros with electrical and electronics products accounting for over 60 percent of total exports, followed by transport equipment (7 percent) and garments and textiles (3 percent). Agricultural exports have been growing in importance with 14 percent, or over 720 million euros in 2010,” said the EU embassy in Makati City.

Meanwhile, the EU is making available 5.55 million euros (about P338 million) to at least 10 local civil society projects in the fields of human rights and local governance.

EU mission charge d’Affaires Lubomir Frebort said the grant “reaffirms the commitment of the EU to human rights and good governance.”

In a statement, Frebort noted “civil society in the Philippines is a particularly dynamic and a valuable social actor that plays a very active role in the promotion of human rights and the enhancement of local governance.”

The EU funding “constitutes a substantial support to non-government organizations’ efforts and will increase their capacities to make a positive contribution to a variety of sectors, such as the situation of human rights defenders, protection of women and children’s rights, promotion of the economic and social rights of the most vulnerable groups, as well as the accountability, transparency and performance of local government units.”

The EU groups, among other countries, Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.