The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has recently spearheaded efforts in strengthening regional waste management protocols, while intensifying moves to combat waste trafficking in the region.
In a statement yesterday, the BOC said that during a three-day study visit at the Port of Manila and Manila International Container Port, delegates from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and customs officials from Southeast Asia participated in a program aimed at enhancing technical skills and collaborative practices for hazardous waste management.
During the visit conducted under the UNODC’s Passenger and Cargo Control Programme, representatives from Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, and Vietnam were involved in discussions on best practices for identifying, containing and processing hazardous materials in the region.
Key segments in the discussion included a firsthand look at seized containers of hazardous waste, a walkthrough of the Customs Operations Center to observe BOC’s trade security protocols and an exploration of X-ray inspection technology.
Officials from the UNODC reaffirmed the agency’s commitment in empowering member states to combat waste trafficking through enhanced technical capacity and cross-border cooperation.
The initiative is a significant component of UNODC’s Hazardous Waste Project, crafted to strengthen customs and law enforcement agencies’ capacity in managing hazardous materials and preventing illegal waste trafficking across borders.
“These valuable exchanges pave the way for deeper partnerships and greater impact, supporting global efforts for the safe, responsible management of hazardous materials within the shipping and logistics sectors,” customs commissioner Bienvenido Rubio said.