For Filipino businesses looking to sell their products overseas, understanding the rules can be just as important as finding buyers.
To help exporters navigate that process, the Bureau of Customs (BOC), under the guidance of Deputy Commissioner Atty. Agaton Teodoro Uvero of the Assessment and Operations Coordinating Group (AOCG) gathered businesses, industry groups, and government agencies for its first-ever Export Summit.
Organized in coordination with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Department of Agriculture (DA), the event focused on practical issues that affect exporters, from customs procedures and trade agreements to regulatory requirements and government support programs.
The summit came as the government continues to push for greater participation of Philippine products in international markets. While demand for local goods continues to grow, many exporters still face challenges in understanding requirements, keeping up with regulations, and maximizing opportunities under existing trade agreements.
Port Operations Service Director Melon Carlo Santiago said government agencies must remain attentive to the concerns of exporters and ensure that policies and services keep pace with their needs.
Throughout the discussions, participants received updates on customs processes, Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), export-related programs, and developments involving the ASEAN Single Window (ASW). The event also gave exporters an opportunity to raise issues directly with government representatives and exchange views with fellow industry players.
For Atty. Kayrel Buenafe, Chief of the BOC Export Coordination Division, the summit was as much about communication as it was about trade.
“Every shipment leaving our ports carries more than goods. It carries the hard work of our producers, the aspirations of our workers, and the promise of a stronger Philippine economy.”
“What we’re trying to build here is trust between the government and our stakeholders in the private sector. Let us remember that every shipment leaving our ports carries more than goods. It carries the hard work of our producers, the aspirations of our workers, and the promise of a stronger Philippine economy,” Buenafe said.
Customs Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno said the Bureau remains focused on helping Philippine businesses reach more markets abroad by making the export process easier and more predictable.
“Ang kailangan natin ay mas maraming oportunidad para makarating ito sa mas maraming merkado.”
“Nandiyan na ang kalidad ng produktong Pilipino. Ang kailangan natin ay mas maraming oportunidad para makarating ito sa mas maraming merkado. Ang trabaho namin sa Bureau of Customs ay gawing mas simple at mas maayos ang proseso para makapag-focus ang ating exporters sa pagpapalago ng kanilang negosyo,” Nepomuceno said.
The Export Summit showed what is possible when government and industry work together. Through stronger communication and closer coordination, Filipino businesses are better positioned to reach new markets and grow their presence overseas. As the country seeks to expand its export footprint, the BOC aims to make that path clearer and more accessible for businesses ready to take the next step.
In line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to facilitate trade and improve the country’s competitiveness, the BOC continues to pursue reforms that support exporters and help more Philippine products find their place in the global market.
