The Bureau of Customs has announced the temporary relocation of offices affected by the Feb 22 fire at the BOC-Port of Manila (POM) building.
The district collector’s office, Formal Entry Division, Informal Entry Division, and Auction and Cargo Disposal Division will operate out of the BOC gym, according to a Feb 24 status report by POM district collector Atty. Ma Rhea Gregorio.
Asian Terminals Inc (ATI) has offered an area located at the passenger terminal for cruise ships at Gate 1 for the use of Operations Division and administrative staff.
Recabling is ongoing for the electronic-to-mobile connection.
The set up of office equipment is expected to be completed by Feb 25, said Gregorio.
Meanwhile, the ATI One Stop Shop will be relocated at the vacant area beside the Port Users Confederation Office.
The processing of arrastre and wharfage payments will be at the ATI Passenger Terminal Gate 1.
A marketing circular will be issued encouraging stakeholders to use the online arrastre payment system.
An infographics for the assessment and operations process flow will be posted shortly.
A Special Response Team has been created to address all queries, concerns, and suggestions of stakeholders and the transacting public concerning POM operations.
Stakeholders are encouraged to post a ticket online or send email (support@odcpom.freshdesk.com) in the created ticketing system to efficiently track and monitor progress of each inquiry, request, etc. All tickets will be referred electronically to the concerned POM officer for appropriate action (can be accessed in mobile).
Tasking
Earlier, Customs commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero said the POM and BOC Central Office will be working during the weekend to “restore and re-establish systems and facilities that were destroyed by the fire, at the soonest possible time… to resume normal operations.”
The damage to the fire is still being assessed.
Guerrero ordered the Internal Administration Group and POM to submit an incident report to the Finance Secretary and the President.
Meantime, he said the Enforcement and Security Service is securing the affected offices while the Intelligence Group and the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service are identifying the cause of the fire.
The Management Information System and Technology Group is re-establishing the information system so that POM can immediately offer its services.
“Everyone at the Bureau of Customs is working together to help the Port of Manila in getting up as soon as possible to stabilize the situation and guarantee minimal disruption for the transacting public.
“We want to assure the public that our operations will not be affected by this event,” Guerrero said.
