Bureau of Customs Port of Cebu Acting District Collector Ciriaco DG Ugay met with the members of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) on 01 June 2023 to discuss the current state of the economy in the Central Visayas Region, to explore ways to further improve business transactions as well as fortify the relationship between the Bureau of Customs and the business community.

The Bureau of Customs – Ninoy Aquino International Airport (BOC-NAIA), together with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the NAIA Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group (NAIA-IADITG), have uncovered shabu concealed inside two (2) checked-in luggage at NAIA Terminal 3 on June 5, 2023.

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) recently issued a set of guidelines outlining the conditions for obtaining preferential tariff treatment under the newly-implemented Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement.

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has achieved another significant milestone by surpassing its revenue collection target for May 2023. The BOC collected a total of P77.793 billion in May 2023, surpassing its target collection of P72.350 billion by P5.443 billion or 7.52%. This represents a remarkable growth of P11.505 billion or 17.36% compared to the previous year’s collection.

Plaridel, Bulacan – On May 26, 2023, a joint operation conducted by operatives of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) led to the seizure of suspected smuggled goods with an estimated value of P900 million. The operation was carried out by agents from the Manila International Container Port (MICP), Intelligence Group, and Enforcement Group, in collaboration with the Philippine Coast Guard.

The Bureau of Customs (BOC), in line with its commitment in the regional trade facilitation, participated in the 26th Meeting of the Working Group on Legal and Regulatory Matters for the ASEAN Single Window (ASW-LWG) on May 23-24, 2023. The meeting, conducted via a virtual conference, brought together delegates from ASEAN Member States, including distinguished representatives from the ASEAN Secretariat and the ASEAN Single Window (ASW) Project Management Office.

The Bureau of Customs – Port of Subic, led by District Collector Carmelita M. Talusan, CESO V, and the Department of Agriculture – Inspectorate and Enforcement (DA-IE) team, headed by Assistant Secretary James A. Layug, recently held a coordination meeting to strengthen collaboration between the two agencies. The meeting provided a platform for enhancing customs procedures and ensuring compliance with agricultural regulations.

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) met with the European Union-ASEAN Business Council (EU-ABC) and the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) on May 23, 2023, to strengthen trade and investment opportunities between the Philippines and European businesses, with a focus on supporting the resumption of Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations between the Philippines and the European Union.

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) actively participated in the Korea Customs Week held in Seoul, South Korea, from April 26-28, 2023, representing the Philippines. Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio, Deputy Commissioner Vener Baquiran, and Director Clarence Dizon attended the event, alongside other Director Generals and customs officials from other countries.

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) – Port of Limay, through the Enforcement and Security Service (ESS), successfully seized one (1) lorry truck and one (1) trailer containing 40 kiloliters of diesel on May 21, 2023 at Seafront Shipyard and Port Terminal Services Corporation in Barangay Lucanin, Mariveles, Bataan.