Mandaluyong city: Closer coordination among government agencies will definitely address smuggling issues in the Philippines, a manufacturing industry leader said Monday. During the Monday Circle Forum in a hotel in Mandaluyong City, Federation of Philippine Industries (FPI) Chairman Emeritus Dr. Jesus Arranza cited recent reports about the successful operations against cigarette smuggling around the country.

According to Philippines News Agency, these operations involved personnel from the National Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Customs, and the local governments. Arranza emphasized that these successful operations demonstrate the effectiveness of closer coordination among government agencies and the private sector, particularly the affected entities.

He explained that the country's first line of defense is the Bureau of Customs (BOC), followed by regulating agencies such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and then the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR). "Pagdating sa BIR, walang lulusot because you have to equate yung ilan ang inimport mo, raw materials, in and out," Arranza stated, highlighting the importance of aligning imports and raw materials to eliminate loopholes.

Arranza also mentioned discussions with BOC officials to help outline a program to enhance the government's anti-smuggling drive with private sector assistance. He noted that this initiative is crucial for saving local industries, referencing the challenges faced by the textile and tire sectors due to smuggling.

The government has been intensifying its anti-smuggling efforts by strengthening digitalization processes to minimize human intervention and enable real-time tracking of shipments, among other measures.