BOC joins San Juan City in campaign against parcel scams

THE Bureau of Customs under Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio, in partnership with the city government of San Juan headed by Mayor Francis Zamora and Vice Mayor Atty. Jose Angelo Rafael Agcaoili, successfully conducted its second ‘community caravan’ aimed at educating the public on parcel scams and other cybercrimes.

The event, which was held at the San Juan City Hall last November 25, was also attended by other BOC officials and experts that include NAIA Deputy Collector for Assessment Atty. Harold S. Agama, Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) International Cooperation on Cybercrime Division and Cybercrime Policy and Planning Division Chief Mark Dennis D. Derecho, DHL Express Philippines Corporation Customs and Regulatory Affairs Manager Atty. Norberto V. Castillo.

On the other hand, participants include representatives from San Juan City’s local government units.

The caravan featured insightful discussions led by CICC representative Mr. Kirt Militante and BOC – Public Information and Assistance Division Officer-in-Charge Karren April A. Noronio-Gabion, who highlighted the prevalence of cybercrimes, including the “love scam” modus.

Atty. Castillo and Acting Sub-Port Collector Atty. Vincent James V. Fajardo from the BOC Central Mail Exchange Center provided practical guidelines on customs clearance for postal items and parcels sent via DHL Express.

Through the presentations, the agency calls for vigilance in online interactions, stressing the importance of education and community action to safeguard individuals from falling victim to scams, as the bureau is committed to expanding the program nationwide and enhancing public awareness to protect Filipino communities.

In his remarks, Mayor Zamora expressed his appreciation for the BOC’s proactive engagement with local communities, underscoring the significance of raising awareness about parcel scams. He encouraged his constituents to seize the opportunity to learn and share the knowledge gained, stating,

“Ito pong gagawin natin ngayon ay makakadagdag upang lalong maging maayos at mapayapa ang aming lungsod sapagkat ayaw naman namin, ang aming mga mamamayan ay maging biktima po ng cybercrime, lalong-lalo na itong parcel scam – Gamitin natin ang pagkakataon na ito para makinig, matuto, at ang pinakamahalaga ay maipaalam natin sa ating mga mamamayan paano ba maiwasan ang mga budol-budol sa pamamagitan nitong parcel scam.”

Rubio, for his part, stated:

“Layunin naming makapaghatid ng serbisyo publiko sa mas marami pa nating kababayan, upang mas maraming tao ang mabigyan ng edukasyon at kaalaman sa pag-iwas sa mga parcel scams at iba pang uri ng cybercrime – Makakaasa po kayo na mas paiigtingin ng Bureau of Customs ang mga hakbang sa pagbabantay at pagpapalaganap ng kamalayan upang tiyakin ang kaligtasan ng bawat Pilipino.

“Naniniwala kami na ang tagumpay ng kampanyang ito ay nakasalalay sa ating sama-samang pagkilos bilang iisang komunidad.”

Exporter cites BOC NAIP-SEZ

Meanwhile, the BOC North Luzon Aero Industrial Park – Special Economic Zone (BOC NAIP-SEZ) has been commended by Sumi-North Philippines Wiring System Corp. (SNPWSC) for its outstanding dedication in facilitating trade and business operations through its 24-hour service.

In a letter addressed to Acting District Collector Sigmundfreud Z. Barte, SNPWSC lauded the BOC NAIP-SEZ for its continuous efforts in enhancing trade facilitation and operational efficiency.

The commendation underscores the Bureau’s commitment in providing consistent support to stakeholders and ensuring the timely processing of trade-related activities.

The company also lauded the customs chief for his leadership that saw great strides in advancing customs processes.

Among the key initiatives cited by the company were the streamlining of shipment examinations for faster processing, the proposal to establish a one-stop shop for export declarations and e-Certificate of Origin issuance, and the implementation of an online logbook and filing system.

These measures have significantly reduced processing times and improve operational efficiency the firm noted.