The Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) turned over five units of Multi-Refrigerant Identifier to theBureau of Customs (BOC), through the Enforcement and Security Service-Environmental Protection and Compliance Division (ESS-EPCD)donated by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) under the implementation of the Philippines HCFC Phase-out Management Plan (HPMP) Stage II Project.

These are tools to ensure the enforcement assets and stregthens the capabilities in monitoring and inspecting refrigerant shipments. The equipment will help the bureau indetectionof adulterated refrigerants in shipments and prevent its proliferation in the market.

The turnover ceremony was witnessed by UNIDO Philippines National Project Coordinator Bellorose Baruga; EMB-Environmental Quality Management Division Chief Engr. Marcelino N. Rivera; EMB- Chemical Management Section Chief Engr. Edwin Navaluna with the other EMB techinical Staff. For BOC’s part, Raniel T. Ramiro, Deputy Commissioner of Intelligence Group, Yogi Filemon L. Ruiz, Director of ESS, Paul Ditona and Jonathan Belmonte, Chief and Team Leader of EPCD, respectively, and other customs officials also graced the event.

The Bureua of Custom Deputy Commissioner Ramiro expressed his gratitude to the UNIDO and DENR-EMB for their unwavering support to the BOC in fulfillment of thier mandates. He assured that the bureau will continue to work closely with its partner agencies in safeguarding the interest of the public by preventing the entry of toxic substances contributing to ozone depletion, climate change, and global warming.

The customs officers and technical personnel also underwent a demonstration and hands-on training on the use and operation of the said equipment facilitated by technical personnel of the EMB Philippine Ozone Desk.