Wednesday, August 29, 2007 Bimp-Eaga Customs heads' meet opens By Joy Romares-Sevilla
THE first-ever gathering of the heads of the Customs administrations in the Brunei-Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-Eaga) formally opened Tuesday, at the Marco Polo Hotel in Davao City.
Secretary Jesus G. Dureza, Philippine signing minister for BIMP-Eaga, said in his opening remarks that the meeting is timely and a very appropriate venue to address and discuss issues affecting border-to-border links within the sub-region and to generate support from Customs administrations.
"We have seen slow, steady progress, but very significant adjustment in facilitating trade, investment and tourism since the launching of BIMP-Eaga in 1994 in Davao City. We have been exchanging visitors and we need to re-open borders by exchanging ideas, knowing and harmonizing Customs rules," Dureza said.
He said the two-day meeting, which will be concluded Wednesday, will be a venue to strengthen the relationship of the four-member countries.
"Person to person contact is very valuable, the issues concerning the Customs need to be addressed," he said, adding that the BIMP-Eaga is a flagship of peace and its member-countries need to tighten the borders in order to isolate each respective area "from those who inflict harm in the sub-region."
Dureza also commended the leaders of Brunei-Darussalam, Indonesia, and Malaysia for helping the Philippines in its peace efforts with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
He said these countries continue to assist the Philippines in its bid to create a good atmosphere for trade, investment, and tourism.
The two-day meeting includes a presentation from the Philippine Bureau of Customs regarding the implementation strategy of the BIMP-Eaga Customs action plan formulated during the 2nd BIMP-Eaga Customs Immigration Quarantine Security (CIQS) Task Force in April 2007 in Brunei-Darussalam.
Commissioner Napoleon Morales of the Philippine Bureau of Customs said he believes that the meeting will not only enable to generate commitment support to address issues and concerns in Customs, but also to further push the implementation of the formulated action plan during the Task Force meeting in Brunei.
Also, the meeting aims to address the social and economic development of the less developed and more remote territories since the event is believed to be a key strategy to accelerate development in the sub-region.
The breakout groups and discussions and validation of issues, and the presentation of results on the discussion of the breakout groups will be presented Wednesday.
