by Melanie Rapiz-Parel
NTA joined 29 other government bodies for inter-agency cooperation initiated by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) to strengthen border control capabilities of the government.
The signing of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the BOC and various government regulating agencies was held through virtual meeting on October 20.
By signing the MOU, Administrator/CEO Robert Victor G. Seares Jr. has affirmed the commitment of NTA to render consultation, coordination and cooperation with the BOC in trade facilitation, prevention of smuggling and provision of support mechanism on border control.
NTA and the regulatory agencies must provide the BOC an updated list of both restricted and regulated goods as defined under Republic Act No. 10863, or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act of 2016, which requires regulatory permits and licenses.
NTA regulates unmanufactured tobacco leaves, cigarettes, cigars, heated tobacco products, pipe tobacco, chewing tobacco, snuff, homogenized tobacco, reconstituted tobacco, cut fillers, cut rags, snus, flavorings and machine spare parts.
Government regulatory bodies must also strengthen coordination and cooperation in the utilization of data and information resources and provide a process flow in the application and releasing of the required regulatory permits to prevent and suppress smuggling and all other forms of customs fraud.
Also part of the joint cooperation are six other agencies under the Department of Agriculture, namely: Bureau of Animal Industry, represented by Director Ronnie D. Domingo; Bureau of Plant Industry, represented Director George Y. Culaste; Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, represented by Director Eduardo B. Gongona; National Food Authority, represented by Administrator Judy Carol L. Dansal; National Meat Inspection Service, represented by Executive Director Reildrin G. Morales; and Sugar Regulatory Administration, represented by Administrator Hermenegildo R. Serafica.
Administrator Seares signed the MOU at the NTA Board Room in Quezon City, in the presence of Deputy Administrators Benedicto M. Savellano and Dr. Roberto R. Bonoan, Regulation Manager Atty. Rohbert A. Ambros, Corporate Planning Manager Fortuna C. Benosa, Finance Manager Ma. Teresa B. Laudencia, Internal Audit Service Manager Dinah E. Pichay, and Budget Officer V Reynaldo R. Aquino.
Other participating regulatory agencies are the following:
- Bureau of Import Services
- Bureau of Philippine Standards
- Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau
- Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines
- Strategic Trade Management Office, Environmental and Management Bureau
- Mines and Geo Sciences Bureau
- Bureau of Quarantine
- Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency
- Dangerous Drugs Board
- Food and Drug Administration
- Bureau of Internal Revenue
- Securities and Exchange Commission
- Bureau of Immigration
- Firearms and Explosives Office of the Philippine National Police
- National Telecommunications Commission
- Philippine Nuclear Research Institute
- Professional Regulation Commission
- Philippine Economic Zone Authority
- Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas
- Anti-Money Laundering Council
- National Bureau of Investigation
- Philippine Coast Guard
