Dominguez to Customs: Deliver reforms, meet collection targets

MANILA, Philippines — Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez has ordered newly appointed Customs commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero to eliminate corruption and smuggling in the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and to sustain the bureau’s strong revenue performance in 2019.

In a meeting last Wednesday, the finance chief discussed with Guerrero the priority programs of the BOC and delivered his marching orders, which include hitting the bureau’s P670 billion target for 2019.

“We discussed the way forward to implement the President’s wishes, the urgent need to completely eliminate corruption and smuggling, particularly illegal drugs, the trade facilitation function of the BOC, and the target of collecting an average P55 billion per month in 2019,” Dominguez said.

Dominguez is confident Guerrero would be able to fulfill his orders and achieve the goals of the BOC.

“Jagger (Guerrero) absolutely is up to the challenge and I am fully confident in his ability to deliver on all fronts. The Department of Finance team will provide our utmost support,” he said.

Last week, President Duterte transferred former Customs commissioner Isidro Lapeña to the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), and replaced him with Guerrero, who was formerly administrator of the Maritime Industry Authority.

He also put other BOC commissioners on floating status to give Guerrero a free hand in appointing his own trusted people.

The reshuffling of BOC personnel came amid the controversy involving the four magnetic lifters allegedly containing shabu, which passed through the BOC.

During Guerrero’s oath-taking ceremony on Wednesday, Duterte ordered the new Customs chief to “double the zealousness” in fighting corruption in the bureau. He also expressed confidence that Guerrero would be able to do his job well.

Meanwhile, former commissioner Lapeña reported that the BOC has already collected P481.72 billion from January to Oct. 29, representing 82.9 percent of the bureau’s P598 billion target for 2018.

The BOC has been consistently exceeding its monthly targets since February. This was attributed to the increased volume and value of traded goods, higher exchange rate, as well as improved enforcement and correct valuation and tariff classification in all ports.