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A Bureau of Customs officer received international recognition for research examining the agency’s role in strengthening the Philippines’ semiconductor supply chains
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Rhoan Escarmosa’s paper examines how Customs can support trusted semiconductor supply chains through trade facilitation, supply-chain security, regulatory coordination and competitiveness
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The fellowship was implemented by Pacific Forum with support from the US Department of State
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She participated in a two-week US study visit, meeting with government, policy, industry and semiconductor-sector stakeholders
A Bureau of Customs (BOC) officer has earned international recognition for research examining the agency’s role in strengthening the Philippines’ semiconductor supply chains.
Rhoan Escarmosa, customs operations officer III at the Port of Manila and concurrently assigned to the Office of the Commissioner, was recognized for one of the Best Research Papers under the Philippine Technology Policy Fellowship, the BOC announced.
The Pacific Forum carried out the fellowship with backing from the United States Department of State.
Pacific Forum is a non-profit foreign policy research institute based in Honolulu, Hawaii, that focuses on political, security, and economic issues in the Indo-Pacific region.
Escarmosa’s paper, “Beyond Border Control: Customs as a Strategic Partner of Trusted Semiconductor Supply Chains in the Philippines,” examines how Customs can contribute to national economic priorities through trade facilitation, supply chain security, regulatory coordination, and improved competitiveness in strategic industries.
The research highlights the importance of Customs modernization, digital trade systems, risk-based border management, trusted trader programs and stronger government-industry collaboration in positioning the Philippines as a reliable partner in global semiconductor supply chains.
It also underscores the need to balance trade facilitation with export-control compliance and other safeguards to protect the integrity and security of international trade.
READ: PH aims to double semiconductor & electronics exports to $110B by 2030
“This recognition is a great honor for the Bureau and for Ms. Escarmosa. Her achievement demonstrates that our personnel have the expertise, insight, and dedication to represent the Philippines well and to contribute to important global discussions that shape trade and economic growth,” Customs commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno said.
During the fellowship, Escarmosa participated in a two-week study visit to the United States alongside fellow Filipino professionals. There, they interacted with officials from the US Department of State, various policy institutions, industry groups, and stakeholders in the semiconductor sector.
The engagements covered emerging technologies, supply chain resilience, economic security, and strategies to strengthen the Philippines’ position in the global semiconductor industry.
The BOC is exploring ways to translate the knowledge, policy insights and professional networks gained from the fellowship into institutional initiatives, including knowledge-sharing activities, policy and industry dialogues, capacity-building programs and stronger engagement with semiconductor companies and other export-oriented industries.
Under Nepomuceno’s leadership, the BOC said it continues to develop a professional and “future-ready workforce capable of addressing emerging challenges in international trade and border management.”
