BUREAU of Customs (BOC) Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio continues to earn recognition for his leadership of the agency, this time earning the nod of his fellow public servants from the national government.
At the Ceremonial Hall of Malacañang last March 13, 2025, Rubio, the former low-ranking customs intelligence officer who then rose as agency head thru hard work and dedication, was conferred the ‘Gawad Bayanihan sa Pamumuhunan Award for Driving Investment Growth through Efficient Customs Processes’ by the Department of Trade and Industry and the Board of Investments (DTI-BOI).
With the theme, ‘Making it Happen with a Whole-of-Nation Strategy,’ the event recognized government agencies and local government units for fostering a business-friendly environment. President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., who served as the keynote speaker, commended the awardees for their efforts in advancing the Green Lanes for Strategic Investments.
“The Gawad Bayanihan sa Pamumuhunan award is a call to stay the course and ensure that the progress we have begun continues to build momentum in the years ahead.
“I encourage everyone to align your organizational goals with our national priorities so that we can push for even greater economic transformation,” said President Marcos, Jr.
In pushing for Comm. Rubio’s inclusion, the DTI-BOI recognized the BOC’s support of EO 18 through initiatives to streamline BOC internal processes, reduce turnaround times, and enhance trade efficiency.
In 2024, the agency has institutionalized stakeholder engagement through the Customs Industry Consultative and Advisory Council (CICAC), expanded the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) Program to accredit trusted traders, implemented the ATA Carnet system for duty-free temporary imports, and issued preferential tariff guidelines under the Philippines-Korea Free Trade Agreement (PH-KR FTA) to optimize trade benefits.
Remaining humble, Commissioner Rubio shared the award with his subordinates at the agency, noting it is again “proof” of the BOC’s “ongoing efforts to modernize and enhance trade facilitation, ensuring that strategic investments thrive in the country.”
The Palace ceremony would be the fourth time since November 2024 that Comm. Rubio has been recognized for excellence in leadership.
The ‘Gawad Pilipino Foundation’ last November 19, 2024 cited Comm. Rubio as an “outstanding public servant” followed by two more recognitions last February by two respectable award-giving bodies as among the country and Asia’s “most influential” leaders in the public sector (Pinoy Exposé, March 1, 2025).