The Bureau of Customs (BOC)-Port of Manila (POM) intercepted an estimated PhP 337.73 million worth of illegal drugs concealed in balikbayan boxes on March 7, 2024.

To ensure the integrity of products and credibility of businesses in the Philippines, the Bureau of Customs-Intellectual Property Rights Division (BOC-IPRD), in collaboration with partner government agencies and international companies, gathered in the first Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Summit of the Bureau of Customs last March 7 to 8, 2024, in Manila.

The Bureau of Customs’ (BOC) – Post Clearance Audit Group (PCAG) convened its annual Stakeholders’ Engagement and Awarding Ceremony on March 5, 2024, at the OCOM Conference Room. The event brought together Assistant Commissioner Vincent Philip C. Maronilla, key officials, importers, and stakeholders to celebrate mutual cooperation and recognize outstanding contributions to revenue collection and trade facilitation.

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) actively engaged in the 15th Session of the Capacity Building Committee (CBC) hosted at the World Customs Organization (WCO) Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, from February 21 to 23, 2024. This session convened WCO Members to discuss crucial topics such as prioritizing capacity building needs and the CBC’s Work Programme.

In a proactive step towards reinforcing border protection and security capabilities, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) engaged in discussions with the United States – Export Control and Border Security (US-EXBS) and the US Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) during an exchange visit.

The Bureau of Customs (BOC), led by Commissioner Bienvenido Y. Rubio, convened with the World Customs Organization (WCO) for a multi-year Mercator partnership and risk management stocktaking session funded by the His Majesty Revenue and Customs (HMRC). The meeting attended by representatives from the Risk Management Office, External Affairs Office, and key Bureau officials, underscore the commitment to fortify risk management practices within the customs domain.

In its bid towards modernization and digital transformation in customs processes, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and the Landbank of the Philippines (Landbank) inked a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the use of Link.BizPortal to facilitate digital payment of miscellaneous fees. The MOA was signed by BOC Commissioner Bienvenido Y. Rubio and Landbank President and Chief Executive Officer Lynette V. Ortiz on Monday, March 4.

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) continued its remarkable revenue collection performance by generating P70.601 billion in revenue in February 2024.

Preliminary reports showed that the bureau has exceeded February 2024 revenue goal by generating a surplus of 6.64% or P4.393 billion over the target of P66.207 billion.

To further strengthen relations between the bureau and the private sector, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and the Chamber of Commerce & Industry France Philippines (CCIFP) gathered in a networking luncheon meeting on February 27, 2024, in Makati City.

The Bureau of Customs (BOC), through the Manila International Container Port (MICP), and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), intercepted a shipment from Thailand containing dried marijuana or kush with an estimated value of PhP76 million found inside five balikbayan boxes, consisting of two smaller boxes.