The Bureau of Customs (BOC) today welcomed Senators Sherwin “Win” Gatchalian and Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito and key officials and members of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means (SCWM) and Senate Tax Study and Research Office (STSRO) for an ocular inspection and a walk-through of its modernization program.

Customs Commissioner Yogi Filemon Ruiz led the walk-throughs at the Customs Customer Care Center (CCC), X-ray Inspection Program (XIP), and the Customs Operations Center (COC).

Key officials of the Bureau conducted briefings on the Customs Processing Systems, BOC Dashboard, Electronic Value Reference Information System (eVRIS), Philippine Customs Modernization Program (PCMP), and the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) Program.

Currently, the BOC automated 91% of its processes, and as of this year, the BOC implemented six additional digitalization projects.

“President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. is adamant to his mandate of the eight-point socioeconomic agenda – the emphasis of which being the prioritization of ensuring sound macroeconomic fundamentals by improving bureaucratic efficiency and ensuring sound fiscal management as well as enhancing the digital economy,” Ruiz said during his welcome remarks.

“On this day, we open ourselves to the constructive feedback of the Senate CWM and the STSRO in hopes of further improving our facilities and reaching our goal of becoming a modernized and credible Customs Administration among the world’s best,” he added.

Under Commissioner Ruiz’s leadership, the BOC ensures the expedited implementation of digitalization projects to ensure the efficient delivery of government services and to combat corruption, smuggling, and other Customs fraud, among others. #