BUREAU Of Customs Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno commended the Port of Iloilo for its exemplary performance in revenue collection, border protection, trade facilitation, and public service as the Port celebrated its 171st founding anniversary last October 7, where he was the special guest and speaker.
The celebration under theme, ‘One Port, One Vision: Honoring 171 Years of Excellence in Customs Service,’ reflects the BOC’s commitment to integrity, accountability, and modernization under the IAM BOC Movement of Commissioner Nepomuceno, said District Collector Noli P. Santua.
The Port of Iloilo is among the country’s oldest trading posts, dating back to the Spanish era when a Royal Decree opening the port to international trade was issued by Queen Isabela II on September 29, 1855.
Before Spain’s colonization, the Port of Iloilo is already a booming trading post in the Visayas for goods and merchandize coming from all over Southeast Asia to as far as China and Japan.
“I commend District Collector Noli P. Santua, Jr. and the men and women of the Port of Iloilo for your accomplishments in revenue collection, border protection, and trade facilitation.
“Ang inyong dedikasyon, sipag, at sama-samang pagkilos ay patunay na mas marami tayong kayang makamit kapag tayo ay nagkakaisa sa iisang layunin.” Commissioner Nepomuceno said during his speech.
The Port of Iloilo is among the country’s oldest trading posts, dating back to the Spanish era when a Royal Decree opening the port to international trade was issued by Queen Isabela II on September 29, 1855.
Records show that under District Collector Santua, the Port of Iloilo collected ₱3.19 billion from January to August 2026, exceeding its collection target by 11.9 percent or a positive variance of ₱341.35 million.
During the celebration, BOC-Port of Iloilo recognized its key partners and stakeholders for their continued support and contributions to the Port with Commissioner Nepomuceno as witness.
OFWs remain on top of BOC priority
As part of his visit to Iloilo, Commissioner Nepomuceno took the opportunity to consult with the families of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to address their concerns, especially problems related to the delivery of their balikbayan boxes sent from abroad by their loved ones.
Nepomuceno was assisted during the dialogue by Collector Santua, Board Member Rolando Distura and Customs Director Venus Apas, in charge of the BOC OFW Assistance Program.
Apas is herself a former OFW before entering government and has deep understanding on the plight and concerns of Filipinos working overseas and their families.
“Ang concern ng ating mga OFW ay mahalagang pakinggan at aksyunan. Patuloy nating palalakasin ang ating mga programa upang maprotektahan ang kanilang kapakanan at maihatid ang serbisyong nararapat para sa kanila,” Commissioner Nepomuceno said.
He also reminded the families to only avail the services of legitimate freight forwarders and consolidators and utilize the BOC OFW Help Desk, the enhanced ‘Duty and Tax Calculator’ platform and his ‘Isumbong Kay Commissioner’ website for immediate action on their concerns.
POM highlights success of IAM Customs Movement
At the Port of Manila (POM), District Collector Rizalino Jose C. Torralba also touted the benefits of the IAM Customs Movement spearheaded by Commissioner Nepomuceno immediately after his appointment to the top Customs post in July last year.
Stressing commitment to Nepomuceno’s reform agenda, Collector Torralba noted that the POM is already benefiting from its results in terms of transparency, revenue generation, enforcement, modernization, and institutional development.
In the first 8 months of the year, Torralba noted the POM generated ₱58.121 billion in revenue, including a record-high monthly collection of ₱8.930 billion in July.
During the same period, the POM also recorded seizures valued at ₱410.543 million and generated ₱103.567 million in auction proceeds from the disposition of seized, forfeited, and abandoned goods.
Advancing integrity in customs administration, the Port entered into a Memorandum of Agreement with the Philippine Chamber of Customs Brokers, Inc. (PCCBI) to enhance transparency in container examinations.
The Port also sustained the Port of Manila Customs Industry Consultative and Advisory Council (POM-CICAC) as a platform for stakeholder dialogue and coordination and continued values formation activities, including weekly Holy Mass gatherings and other programs that promote ethical public service.
In line with modernization efforts, POM became the first port to integrate Barge Transfer operations into the Electronic Tracking of Containerized Cargo (E-TRACC) System, enabling real-time monitoring of containerized cargo transported through waterways implemented under
Customs Memorandum Order No. 09-2024.
The initiative expands cargo movement options, supports trade facilitation, and helps ease road congestion through GPS-enabled routes linking key port facilities and economic zones.
The Port also maintained yard utilization below the 70-percent ideal target at 64 percent in July and 66 percent in August 2026 and continued using the POM Dashboard to monitor assessment processing times and improve operational efficiency.
Commenting on the results, Commissioner Nepomuceno said they demonstrate how the IAM BOC Movement is being translated into concrete action.
“I commend District Collector Rizalino Jose C. Torralba and the entire Port of Manila workforce for their dedication to upholding integrity, strengthening accountability, and driving modernization in customs operations in pursuit of better public service,” Commissioner Nepomuceno said.