CUSTOMS BRIEFING. Senators JV Ejercito and Sherwin Gatchalian listen to a briefing by Customs Commissioner Yogi Filemon Ruiz (1st to 3rd from left) at the Bureau of Customs main office in Manila on Monday (Dec. 12, 2022). On top of the agenda was the Customs modernization program. (Courtesy of BOC)
MANILA – The Bureau of Customs (BOC) on Monday briefed officials and members of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means and Senate Tax Study and Research Office (STSRO) on its modernization program.
BOC Commissioner Yogi Filemon Ruiz guided Senators Sherwin Gatchalian and JV Ejercito, together with Ways and Means committee and STSRO officials and members, in an ocular inspection and walk-through of programs to modernize the bureau.
The BOC chief toured the guests at the Customs Customer Care Center, X-ray Inspection Program, and the Customs Operations Center at the BOC main office in Manila.
BOC officials also held briefings on the Customs Processing Systems, BOC Dashboard, Electronic Value Reference Information System, Philippine Customs Modernization Program, and the Authorized Economic Operator Program.
"President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. is adamant on 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.
He added that they are open to the "constructive feedback" of the Senate, aimed at further improving their facilities and "reaching our goal of becoming a modernized and credible Customs Administration among the world's best."
The BOC has automated 91 percent of its processes and implemented additional digitalization projects.
Ruiz also assured the expedited implementation of digitalization projects to ensure the efficient delivery of government services and to combat corruption, smuggling, and other fraudulent activities.
In a news release, Senator JV Ejercito urged the full implementation of Republic Act No. 10845 or the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act and said smugglers must be slapped with the non-bailable offense of economic sabotage.
He cited the warning of the Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (Sinag) that there are numerous new smugglers who were not included in the list previously submitted to the Senate.
They allegedly bring in white and red onions, rice and frozen meat products.
“As the principal author of the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Law, nakalulungkot itong balita na marami pa rin agri-smuggler na nag-o-operate sa ating bansa (It is sad to know that there are still agri-smugglers in our country). It’s been six to seven years since the law was passed ngunit parang balewala lang ang batas (but our laws are being ignored),” said Ejercito.
Ejercito said Sinag is working with the Department of Agriculture and BOC in pressing economic sabotage charges against the smugglers of an estimated PHP30 million worth of white onions that were recently confiscated at the Manila International Container Port.
He said BOC’s modernization efforts should be geared toward curbing agricultural smuggling and addressing the alleged widespread corruption within the agency. (PNA)
