THE Philippines, thru the Bureau of Customs, has retained its second spot among ASEAN-member states in digital and sustainable trade facilitation, as confirmed by a survey conducted by the United Nations.
According to the result of the 2025 UN Global Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation released last month, the Philippines ranked second behind Singapore (96.77 percent) after achieving an overall trade facilitation score of 91.40 percent, a significant improvement from the country’s 86.02 percent score in 2023.
Following the Philippines in the scorecard is Malaysia (90.32 percent), Indonesia (89.25 percent) and Thailand (88.17 percent).
During the virtual launch of the report, Director Rupa Chanda of the Trade, Investment and Innovation Division at UN ESCAP, recognized the Philippines—alongside Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Georgia, and Malaysia—for surpassing the 90 percent implementation threshold for the first time since the survey’s inception in 2015.
Now in its sixth edition, the 2025 UN Global Survey provides a comprehensive global assessment of trade facilitation efforts across five regions—Asia-Pacific, Africa, the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), Latin America and the Caribbean, and the UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA).
Instrumental to the Philippines’ performance is the BOC’s ongoing reforms and modernization initiatives in support of the goals of the Marcos administration.
Over 96 percent of the agency’s processes have been “digitized” over the years with Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno hoping to achieve 100 percent digitization under his term.
The BOC is an active participant Framework Agreement on Facilitation of Cross-border Paperless Trade in Asia and the Pacific (CPTA), the ASEAN Single Window, and the electronic exchange of Phytosanitary Certificates (e-Phyto).
The UN report also recognized the country’s continued efforts in implementing the World Trade Organization Trade Facilitation Agreement (WTO TFA), led by the Philippine Trade Facilitation Committee (PTFC). Through the PTFC, the government fosters coordinated, inclusive, and stakeholder-driven trade facilitation policies.
Among its flagship programs, the BOC’s Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) initiative incentivizes compliance and supply chain security through simplified customs procedures, reflecting the government’s broader push for a rules-based, transparent, and business-friendly trade environment.
Commissioner Nepomuceno reaffirmed the BOC’s commitment to further advancing the country’s trade facilitation efforts beyond the requirements of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement, especially in areas aligned with the President’s development agenda, such as e-commerce digitalization, gender empowerment in trade, and green customs practices.