PBBM’s praise during SONA boosts BOC morale

THE morale of Bureau of Customs (BOC) officials and employees headed by Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio, was given a big boost after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. acknowledge the agency’s accomplishments in the past year during his State of the Nation Address (SONA) last July 22, 2024.

In a statement the following day, the BOC noted the Chief Executive included several paragraphs on the BOC’s accomplishments in his speech that lasted for 1 hour and 22 minutes and which was repeatedly interrupted by repeated claps and standing ovation from the audience.

Going into the topic of food security, Pres. Marcos acknowledged the apprehension by the BOC of over P2.7 billion worth of smuggled agricultural products in Zamboanga City last May 19, 2023.

“Through modernized customs procedures and heightened enforcement efforts, more than 2.7 billion pesos worth of smuggled agri-fisheries products have been seized, preventing them from entering the market and negatively influencing prices.

“Bilang leksyon, ang mga nasabat na kargamento ng bigas ay agad nating ipinamahagi sa ating mga mahihirap na kababayan. Ganoon din ang sasapitin ng lahat ng mga ipupuslit pang mga bigas. Ang ibang mga produkto naman ay ating sisirain o susunugin — bukod pa sa pagkaka-kulong ng mahuhuling mga salarin.

“Soon, we will be implementing the pre-border technical verification and cross-border electronic invoicing of import commodities.

“This will send a strong signal that we mean serious business,” the President declared.

The BOC noted that following the presidential directive and in partnership with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the seized agricultural products, particularly rice, were distributed to 42,180 qualified beneficiaries in Mindanao and several areas in Metro Manila and nearby regions.

The BOC said it also appreciated the President’s taking note of Administrative Order No. 23, which introduces Pre-border Technical Verification and Cross-border Electronic Invoicing for import commodities.

AO23 aims to establish a more secure, harmonized, and streamlined trading environment, with the BOC at the forefront of its execution.

The BOC likewise noted that it would play a big role in the implementation of the eTravel system, when he stated:

“Air transport and tourism have been made more convenient because of the shift to paperless immigration and customs forms, thanks to the e-Travel system.”

To date, the BOC said, it has successfully fully implemented the e-Travel System at international airports.

On fiscal and revenue performance, the BOC claimed it has turned over P1.730 trillion in collection last year, surpassing its target of P1.601 trillion by over 8 percent or P126.260 billion.

“As the nation’s second-largest revenue-generating agency, the BOC continues to strive for robust collection performance to support the government’s funding of national projects, strengthened border protection and simplifying trade processes,” the BOC said.

“Commissioner Bienvenido Y. Rubio reaffirms the BOC’s dedication to upholding the President’s vision, ensuring that the agency remains a vital contributor to the country’s progress and development,” it added.