In a concerted effort to combat illicit trade and protect local agricultural industries, Bureau of Customs Commissioner (BOC) Bienvenido Y. Rubio and Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. spearheaded a seizure operation, uncovering various agricultural products in Dagat-dagatan, Navotas City.

During the second briefing session of the Senate Committee on Finance on the Proposed 2025 National Expenditure Program (NEP), key government agencies, including the Bureau of Customs (BOC), received notable praise for their exceptional revenue collection performance. Senate Minority Leader Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III recognized the BOC, along with the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and the Department of Finance’s (DOF) Corporate Affairs Group, for their contributions to a 15% increase in government revenues in the first half of 2024.

In a significant stride against illegal drug trafficking, the Bureau of Customs Ninoy Aquino International Airport (BOC-NAIA), in collaboration with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the NAIA Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group (NAIA-IADITG), successfully intercepted two passengers attempting to smuggle illegal drugs worth PhP56,557,000 during back-to-back operations at NAIA Terminal 3 in Pasay City on August 13 and 14, 2024.

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) and the Department of Finance (DOF) recently convened with the ASEAN-USAID Partnership Program to discuss the development of the Study on the New Generation ASEAN Single Window (ASW). This collaboration represents a pivotal advancement in enhancing the Philippines’ role in regional trade facilitation.

The Bureau of Customs (BOC), in collaboration with the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC), successfully launched its inaugural “Customs Community Caravan: Awareness Campaign Against Parcel Scam” on August 13, 2024, in Pasig City. This groundbreaking initiative aims to educate and empower communities to combat the growing threat of online and parcel scams by providing them with essential tools to safeguard their hard-earned money and personal information.

Demonstrating the reinforced partnership between the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and the Department of Agriculture (DA), the BOC-Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) and DA Officers conducted joint inspections which resulted to the seizure of shipments of agricultural products without the required Sanitary and Phytosanitary Import Clearance (SPSIC) from the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI), and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).

As part of its continuing efforts to enhance trade facilitation, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) recently participated in the Philippine-British Meat Trade Briefing and Reception organized by the British Chamber of Commerce Philippines.

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has once again demonstrated its unwavering commitment to financial transparency and accountability, achieving an unmodified opinion on its Financial Statements for the second consecutive year. This evaluation was issued by the Commission on Audit (COA), underscoring the BOC’s adherence to the highest standards of financial reporting for the C.Y. 2023.

The Bureau of Customs’ Accounts Management Office (BOC-AMO) has received high praise from the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce Philippines (FICCP), the Practicing Customs Brokers Association of the Philippines (PCBAP), and the Chamber of Customs Brokers, Inc. (CCBI) for significantly improving operational efficiency and client service.

The Bureau of Customs-Port of Cagayan de Oro (BOC-CDO), under the leadership of District Collector Alexandra Y. Lumontad, issued a Warrant of Seizure and Detention on July 25, 2024, against 4,300 reams of undocumented cigarettes apprehended in Kapatagan and Sultan Naga Dimaporo, Lanao del Norte.