THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) under Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno is in talks with the Philippine Iron and Steel Institute (PISI) to strengthen their partnership in the valuation and monitoring of iron and steel products.
In a statement, the BOC said at the conclusion of the meeting last January 25, the BOC and the PISI agreed to form a ‘Technical Working Group’ (TWG) to develop a unified, time-bound database to monitor steel imports, classify commodities, and support standardized customs valuation based on historical data.
“By working closely with industry leaders, we can establish transparent valuation standards, close enforcement gaps, and ensure that trade is fair, predictable, and rules-based consistent with the President’s call for accountable and modern governance,” Commissioner Nepomuceno said.
He stressed the ongoing reforms, with the active participation of the private sector, are expected to “endure beyond leadership changes” (in the agency).
For its part, the PISI expressed its commitment to support the BOC’s initiatives, including legislative advocacy for customs reforms and the sharing of technical expertise and industry databases to help establish transparent and verifiable reference values for steel imports and exports.