The Bureau of Customs (BOC) capped its 121st Founding Anniversary on Tuesday by showcasing its Customs Operations Center (COC) and recognizing the services of its collection districts and offices on February 7.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the Guest of Honor and Speaker, was represented by Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno. Also present was Albay Representative Joey S. Sarte Salceda, chair of the House of Representatives’ committee on ways and means.
The BOC showed the technological capabilities of its Customs Operations Center (COC), the command-and-control hub of the intelligence and enforcement operations of the BOC’s 17 Collection Districts.
In his message, Customs Commissioner Yogi Filemon Ruiz stressed the BOC’s accomplishments for 2022, highlighting the record-breaking revenue collection, enhanced and intensified anti-smuggling campaign, and the modernization efforts aligned with the Philippine Development Plan for 2023 to 2028.
“We are confident that with the leadership of our President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and the guidance of our Finance Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno, we will be able to achieve our goals again this year and for the years to come,” Ruiz said.
Diokno, with Customs Commissioner Ruiz and Deputy Commissioner Donato San Juan, presented the awards to the Ports of San Fernando, Manila, Manila International Container Port, Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Batangas, Legazpi, Iloilo, Cebu, Tacloban, Surigao, Cagayan De Oro, Zamboanga, Davao, Subic, Clark, Aparri, and Limay for their contribution to the achievement of the 2022 collection target and for their commitment to fulfill the agency’s core mandates.
The Enforcement and Security Service, Environmental Protection and Compliance Division, Customs Intelligence, Investigation Service, and the Customs Anti-Illegal Drugs Task Force of BOC were also awarded for strategic execution of border-protection-related operations.
The BOC anniversary adopted the World Customs Organization (WCO) theme for the year 2023 -“Nurturing the Next Generation by Promoting a Culture of Knowledge-sharing and Professional Pride in Customs.”
Officers of the Revenue Collection Monitoring Group, Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), and Interim Internal Quality Management System Office auditors were also recognized for their exemplary performance in the delivery of their duties and functions.
Ports of Davao, Dadiangas, Zamboanga, Cagayan De Oro, and Dumaguete were awarded their respective International Organization for Standardization Certifications.
The Collection Districts nationwide participated in the BOC Painting Competition where NAIA won the first place, Subic 2nd place, and Internal Administration Group in the 3rd place.
Under Ruiz’s leadership, the BOC remains committed to fulfilling its mandates as it welcomes another year in its history.
