President Rodrigo Duterte urged the Bureau of Customs (BOC) to continue improving its operations, particularly trade facilitation and border security, expressing hope that in the coming years the agency will no longer be seen as one of the most corrupt in the country.
“I urge the agency to continue to find ways to improve its operations, continue to simplify procedures and centralize operations, particularly in the areas of trade facilitation and border control so that they keep beating and exceeding targets in the coming years,” Duterte said in a speech on February 8 during BOC’s 115th anniversary celebration.
The President lauded the agency’s revenue collection efforts, especially in November 2016, when the monthly target was surpassed, the first time since December 2014. He noted BOC’s revenue collection accounts for a significant chunk of the country’s earnings.
In jest, he said, “maybe I will increase your salaries to…P1 million per month”, then quickly added, “I am the 16th President, that could be the duty now of the 25th president to implement my promise.”
Duterte then advised customs officials and employees to “in the meantime, live simply… Do not crave for things which you cannot afford. Do not dream of things which are beyond your reach.”
He also urged greater collaboration with foreign customs counterparts “by exchanging information and finding more avenues of cooperation.”
During the same event, BOC gave tokens of appreciation to the representatives of foreign governments and organizations that it has partnerships and projects with, such as the World Customs Organization, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, United States Department of Homeland Security, Japan Customs Cooperation Fund, and Korean Customs Service.
With BOC in the frontline of the government’s campaign against smuggling and illegal drugs, Duterte encouraged the agency to beef up its enforcement operations.
“You have my full support in developing BOC’s law enforcement capabilities so you can conduct these operations more effectively and efficiently, as well as deter criminal and illegal activities,” Duterte noted.
BOC Enforcement Group deputy commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno told PortCalls they are “both inspired and challenged (by) the President’s full support” and that they “must succeed.”
Duterte said that with the “combined efforts of its leadership, its employees, private sector, and the Filipino people, I am hopeful that the Bureau of Customs will no longer be tagged as among the most corrupt agencies in the coming years.”
He told BOC officials and employees that the reforms, improvement in operations, and crackdown on graft and corruption will affect “some of your colleagues and friends”.
“It is my hope that you will lend me support in bringing them into the light or in bringing them down,” Duterte said, adding “this is the only way to revitalize the Bureau of Customs and therefore our people’s trust in government.” – text and photo by Roumina Pablo
