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The World Customs Organization and the Philippine Bureau of Customs have jointly launched the month-long “Integrity Diagnostic Mission”
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The program aims to further prevent corruption and increase level of integrity in customs
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It involves self-assessment by BOC to determine its integrity situation and identify areas for improvement
The World Customs Organization (WCO) and the Philippine Bureau of Customs (BOC) have jointly launched the month-long “Integrity Diagnostic Mission” to further prevent corruption and increase the level of integrity in customs.
The program, conducted virtually by WCO, involves self-assessment byBOC to determine its integrity situation and identify areas and opportunities for improvement.
Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero and WCO deputy secretary-general Ricardo Treviño led the launching on August 27.
“This Integrity Diagnostic Mission provides for a holistic and comprehensive approach to the Integrity and Anti-corruption Program of the Bureau,” Guerrero said in a statement.
“The Integrity Program is enshrined in the Vision and Mission and the 2021 10-Point Priority Program of the Philippine Customs and is envisioned to be consistent with the WCO Arusha Declaration, the WCO Integrity Development Guide [IDG], and the United Nations Convention Against Corruption [UNCAC],” he added.
The WCO Revised Arusha Declaration provides Customs administrations with a practical approach to anti-corruption policies and practices as stipulated in the UNCAC, while the WCO IDG provides a practical framework to examine the management, administrative and integrity strategies currently in place and to identify opportunities for further improvement.
The launch was attended by WCO integrity experts and other key BOC officials, including the BOC Integrity Core Team, which will facilitate conduct of the diagnostic mission.
The Integrity Core Team is headed by BOC Planning and Policy Research Department chief Noemi Alcala-Garcia with External Affairs Office head Marietta Zamoranos as the assistant lead.
Also in attendance were BOC officials tapped to participate as integrity contributors, being experts in areas or activities with direct or indirect impact on the fight against corruption and promotion of integrity.
WCO and BOC conducted an online Customs Integrity Perception Survey from July 12 to August 13 at select ports to assess the bureau’s current integrity and anti-corruption initiatives and evaluate how to further strengthen integrity across the agency.
