NAIA customs personnel attend 2-day virtual workshop conducted by US experts

Attendees of the recently concluded International Air Cargo Interdiction Training (IACAT) hybrid virtual workshop take a moment for group shot. (Photo from the Bureau of Customs)

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Customs at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (BOC-NAIA) took part in the first two-day Hybrid Virtual Air Cargo Interdiction Training (IACIT), according to a BOC statement issued on Friday.

The workshop, which was conducted June  17 and 18, was organized by the United States Export Control and Related Border Security (US EXBS) Program, and the United States Customs and Border Protection (US CBP).

US experts shared with the BOC-NAI information on the best practices being used all over the world in the very challenging task of securing borders against illicit trade.

Among those who attended the workshop were EXBS adviser Ransom Avila; CBP attaché Edward Bayron; Sol Ogatis of the US Embassy in Manila; Dennis Manimbo of the Strategic Management Office of the Department of Trade and Industry; lawyer  Geoffrey De Vera, deputy collector for assessment of Port of Clark; and frontliners at the Port of NAIA.

The US EXBS Program is conducted by US State Department to help partner governments to develop and improve their strategic trade and related border control systems in accordance with international standards, through technical assistance, executive exchanges and training workshops for border control and enforcement agencies.

The  US CBP is the primary border control agency of the US, charged with regulating and facilitating international trade.

During the workshop, District Collector Mimel Talusan of the Port of NAIA delivered a speech on the border control initiatives and reforms of BOC under the leadership of Commissioner Rey Leonardo B. Guerrero.

According to its statement, the BOC will continue, through the Port of NAIA, to cooperate with international law enforcement bodies to work on ways to further strengthen border control, along with its mandates of trade facilitation and revenue collection, to achieve a customs administration that is world-class and at par with global standards.