BOC has sweeping reform agenda to curb corruption — Palace

Malacañang said Tuesday there is a sweeping reform agenda being implemented in the Bureau of Customs after the agency was listed as one of the most corrupt offices in the country as per the United States Department of State.

At a press briefing, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro said the BOC already coordinated with the American Chamber of Commerce as well as the US Embassy as regards the matter.

The BOC wanted to show that it has a reform agenda to curb these corruption issues, Castro said. She added that the agency is also observing modernization in its system to prevent corrupt practices.

''So, ang sabi po, nakausap po natin mismo ang pamunuan ng BOC, sila po ay nakipag-ugnayan na sa American Chamber of Commerce at pati po sa US Embassy through DFA at nais nilang ipaliwanag at ipakita na mayroon pong sweeping reform agenda ang bagong pamunuan at niri-reinforce po dito ang transparency, accountability and professionalism,'' she said.

(We spoke with the leadership of BOC, and they already coordinated with the American Chamber of Commerce and the US Embassy through DFA and they wanted to show and explain that they have a sweeping reform agenda, and that they are reinforcing transparency, accountability, and professionalism.)

''Matatandaan din po natin na nag-prohibit sila ng conflict of interest among the professionals na hindi puwedeng sumama sa negosyo o magkaroon ng financial interest sa mga customs brokerage at ito ay within the fourth civil degree by affinity and by consanguinity,'' she added.

(We can recall that they also prohibit conflict of interest among professionals wherein those within the fourth civil degree of affinity and by consanguinity cannot join in businesses with customs brokerage.)

The US State Department had said "corruption is a pervasive and long-standing problem in both the public and private sector" in the Philippines.

It also cited the country's rank of 114th out of 180 countries on Transparency International's 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index and "remaining around that level since 2019."

The State Department also said its embassy in Manila has received multiple reports from US businesses of overly invasive searches, inconsistent customs charges, and solicitations of "facilitation fees" (such as bribes) from some customs officials. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News