The Customs Technical Assistance Project was implemented jointly by the Philippine Ozone Desk (POD) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) and the Bureau of Customs (BoC) and was funded under the Multilateral Fund.
In 2002, the BoC and the DENR agreed to take specific measures to implement the Montreal Protocol, specifically focusing on preventing the entry of harmful chemicals, such as Ozone-Depleting Substances (ODS), into the country. A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the DENR and the BoC was signed by the heads of both agencies on 24 July 2003 to clarify the roles and responsibilities of the BoC and the DENR-EMB in relation to the provisions of Republic Act No.6969 (Toxic and Hazardous Substances Management Act) and the Montreal Protocol. The partnership led to the creation of the DENR-BoC Liaison Committee to ensure adequate coordination and problem-solving between the two agencies.
The project “Training for Customs Officers and other Key Stakeholders on Monitoring and Control of Ozone Depleting Substances and Compliance under other Multilateral Environmental Agreements” was approved by the Executive Committee of the Multilateral Fund in March 2002. It sought to provide the necessary training of customs officials and other key stakeholders on monitoring, strict control of importation, and preventing the illegal trade of all ODS. The training also raised the awareness and capacity of customs officials in the enforcement of other MEAs with trade provisions, such as the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent (PIC) Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade, the Convention on the International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES), and the Basel Convention on the Transboundary Movement of Hazardous Wastes.
The project had two phases. Phase I, the Train-the-Trainers Phase, involved the training of Customs Officers, some DENR-EMB Regional ODS Officers, and participants from other partner agencies such as the Tariff Commission, Philippine Ports Authority, Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, and Department of Trade and Industry. About 36 participants successfully completed the training and eventually became trainers and resource persons in the Phase II of the project.
In Phase II, other customs officers from the different ports in the country, key stakeholders such as ODS importers, DENR-EMB-ODS Officers, and other government agencies were trained. A total of 332 Customs Officers and other stakeholders were trained. In this phase, a Country Handbook on National Regulations and Import Licensing System for the Phase-Out of Ozone Depleting Substances was published as a reference to assist customs officers in better understanding the policy, legislative, and regulatory framework for the Philippines’ compliance with the Montreal Protocol.
The Project was completed in April 2004. Efforts are now underway to sustain this capacity building initiative at the BoC by including an ODS Training Curricula in the BoC-Human Resources Management Division (HRMD) Training Work Program.
For more information, contact Ms. Consolacion Crisostomo at consolacioncrisostomo@yahoo.com