The Department of Trade and Industry – Strategic Trade Management Office (DTI-STMO) signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Bureau of Customs (BOC) on 04 September 2023 to strengthen collaboration areas on trade facilitation of strategic goods.

 The signing of the MOA was led by key officials, including Dr. Ceferino S. Rodolfo, Undersecretary for the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) – Industry and Trade Promotion Group (IDTPG), Atty. Janice Sacedon-Dimayacyac, Director of the DTI – Strategic Trade Management Office (STMO), and Mr. Bienvenido Y. Rubio, Commissioner of the Bureau of Customs (BOC).

The agreement represents another milestone in the agencies’ shared mission to the full implementation of Republic Act No. 10697 or the Strategic Trade Management Act (STMA), and underscores the commitment to balance national security and trade promotion by streamlining processes to facilitate the legitimate trade of strategic goods while ensuring the highest standards of security and compliance. Agreement areas include the establishment of a Strategic Trade Management Team (STMT) within the Bureau; establishment of capacity-building programs; data sharing; risk management; trade facilitation mechanisms; and enforcement.

The BOC is a member of the Technical Working Group on Trade Facilitation and the Subcommittee on Enforcement, which were created through Resolution 1 of the National Security Council – Strategic Trade Management Committee (NSC-STMComm). The Bureau serves as a critical government partner for the STMO given its unique mandate of monitoring and controlling the cross-border flow of goods in addition to its risk management capabilities.

Comm. Rubio was joined by other key Customs officials, including Atty. Vener S. Baquiran, Deputy Commissioner of the Bureau’s Assessment and Operations Coordinating Group (AOCG), and Atty. Clarence S. Dizon, Director of the Port Operations Service under AOCG. ♦

Date of release: 25 September 2023

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