US HOSTS PH CUSTOMS EXECS IN SECURITY EXCHANGE VISIT

TO discuss and share best practices on port security and operations, the United States Department of State's Export Control and Related Border Security (EXBS) program and the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) hosted an exchange visit in Los Angeles, California, for the Philippine Bureau of Customs (BoC).

Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio led the the Philippine delegation from June 24 to 28, 2024 to visit various CBP ports and facilities in Los Angeles, California, including the Long Beach Seaport, Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), US Coast Guard Marine Base, and Air and Marine Operations Center in Riverside.

Deputy Commissioner for the Assessment Group Vener Baquiran and District Collectors from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Manila International Container Port, and the Clark, Manila and Cebu ports also joined the visit.

Rubio said the best practices they have observed and the discussions they had with their US counterparts would "help us when the BoC formulates new policies and improves operational guidelines when we go back to the Philippines."

The US Embassy in Manila said the exchange visit was to help the Philippines improve its currency smuggling detection and contraband interdiction.

It said BoC officials also had the opportunity to exchange information on enforcement and investigation with special agents from the LAX-based Homeland Security Investigations office.

Ransom Avilla, Regional EXBS Advisor assigned at the US Embassy in Manila, said their Philippine visitors benefited from the expertise of CBP officers in airport currency smuggling detection and enforcement, which was all arranged under the EXBS program.

"In the future, we are planning to bring CBP experts to the Philippines to assist the BOC in identifying travelers with undeclared currency entering and exiting the country," Avilla said.

Under the Export Control Cooperation Office of the US State Department's Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation, the EXBS program provides several training workshops for partner countries like the Philippines that feature CBP experts and investigators from the Homeland Security Investigations office.

The US Embassy said the security exchange program includes training in international air cargo interdiction, seaport interdiction and counter-proliferation investigation.

"Through the EXBS program, the United States continues to support the Philippine government in improving its border security capabilities, strengthening its strategic trade management system, and preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction," the embassy added.

2024-07-09T16:14:53Z dg43tfdfdgfd