PALACE ALL PRAISES ON BOC UNDER NEPOMUCENO

MALACAÑANG, thru Palace Spokesperson Atty. Claire Castro, recognized the achievements of the Bureau of Customs under Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno at the conclusion of the 5^th State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday, July 27.

Speaking to reporters right after the speech, Castro said the President has so many accomplishments to report to Filipinos that were not included in the SONA.

“Sa dami po ng accomplishments ng administrasyon, kulang po itong oras na ito dahil marami pa po, marami siyang dapat na masabi sana, patungkol sa accomplishments ng Bureau of Customs.

“Sa totoo lang po ha, sa panahon ni Pangulong Marcos Jr. at ni Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno, talagang walang nagiging issue na negatibo ang Bureau of Customs, at napakaganda po ng kanilang mga achievements at mga nakokolekta,” Castro said.

The latest declaration of the Palace’s satisfaction with the performance of Nepomuceno came as stakeholders continue to also publicly declare their support and commitment to the reforms the Customs Chief has been initiating thru three short policy guiding principles—Integrity, Accountability, Modernization (IAM Customs), since taking office in July 2025.

Federation of Philippine Industries (FPI) President Elizabth Lee, in a letter to Commissioner Nepomuceno last July 15, said that under his guidance, the BOC has become “a shining example of grit, resilience, and exemplary public service” amid prevailing economic challenges.

Following their previous engagement (Pinoy Exposé, October 28, 2025) the BOC welcomed the return of the so-called ‘Industry Technical Experts’ (ITEs), to assist Customs frontline personnel in checking instances of ‘technical smuggling’ thru misclassification (wrong technical description of goods), undervaluation and other technical description that some smugglers used to defraud the government of its rightful revenue.

The presence of ITEs at Customs is among the concessions the government granted to domestic manufacturers to protect their sectors from cheap and smuggled counterparts after the country joined the World Trade Organization (WTO) during the Ramos administration.

The productive engagement with the Philippine Exporters Confederation (PhilExport) on July 14, also resulted to the group throwing their full weight behind the reforms and initiatives being undertaken by the agency under Nepomuceno’s leadership.

Speaking before exporters from various industries, Commissioner Nepomuceno shared his vision of transforming the BOC into a trusted partner of the Philippine export community, assuring stakeholders of the agency’s continuous reforms.

“We fully know that we can help you, exporters. Panahon na ngayon na bigyan natin ng mas mabigat na timbang ang ating bansa. Ipinapangako namin sainyo, hindi po ako mapapahiya sainyo.

“Trust us that we will help you thrive while we wait for the full digitalization of the processes.

“We will deal with your concerns as if your business is our business. Iisa ang ating bansa, tutulungan namin na pagandahin ang negosyo niyo dahil in the process, we will become a proud country,” the Commissioner said.

PhilExport officials, for their part, noted that the strengthened collaboration between government and industry marks a positive shift in fostering a more responsive business environment.

The BOC stressed that stakeholder engagement remains a cornerstone of the agency’s modernization efforts, reaffirming the agency’s commitment to maintaining open communication and working closely with the business community as a true partner in trade.

In a separate statement, Commissioner Nepomuceno noted that the active support of stakeholders has resulted to the agency’s unprecedented revenue collection despite a global economic slowdown as the wars in the Middle East continue to rage.

From January to June 2026, the BOC collected ₱491.748 billion, exceeding its target by ₱11.478 billion, or 2.4 percent.

The BOC attributed this achievement to the collective efforts of the agency and the trading community in promoting compliance, facilitating the efficient movement of legitimate trade, and supporting the government’s economic objectives under the Marcos administration.

“This achievement is not the Bureau of Customs’ alone—it is a shared milestone made possible by every importer, exporter, and stakeholder who continues to comply with our laws and partner with us in good faith.

“Your trust, cooperation, and commitment to responsible trade play a vital role in keeping goods moving, supporting businesses, creating opportunities, and driving economic growth,” the Customs Chief stressed.

Appreciating the Palace’s kind words to him and the agency during the SONA, Commissioner Nepomuceno said Castro’s pronouncement also affirms the “dedication and hard work of thousands of customs personnel across the country.”

“The President’s State of the Nation Address reminds us that every reform we pursue and every peso we rightfully collect contributes to a greater national purpose.

“Sa Bureau of Customs, hindi po kami titigil sa pagpapatupad ng tapat, makabago, at mahusay na serbisyo.

“Patuloy naming paiigtingin ang pangongolekta ng tamang buwis, paglaban sa smuggling, at pagsusulong ng mas mabilis at mas transparent na customs processes upang makatulong sa pagbuo ng isang mas matatag na ekonomiya at mas maunlad na kinabukasan para sa bawat Pilipino.

“Ito ang aming ambag sa Bagong Pilipinas na sama-sama nating itinataguyod,” Commissioner Nepomuceno said.