The Japanese government is extending its assistance to the Philippines’ target of reviving its customs laboratory, which is designed to boost border security efforts.
It would be done through the Japanese government’s aid arm Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the Bureau of Customs (BOC) said in a statement on Wednesday.
The commitment was made during a meeting with JICA’s customs expert Katsu Shigeaki last week, where he committed to provide strategic technical assistance and capacity-building support.
Late in June, the BOC said it was planning to re-establish the Philippines Customs Laboratory (PCL) to improve the country’s measures against smuggling as well as increase its revenue collection.
The BOC previously said that relaunching the PCL could help determine the correct tariff classification and imposable duties on imports, as well as deter any attempts of technical smuggling. The challenges, however, include the lack of facilities and obsolete laboratory equipment, Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio said.
The JICA is also committed to assisting in other modernization projects of the BOC.
Source: CNN
