BOC to have new home soon

CEBU, Philippines - The Bureau of Customs Cebu will soon have a new home at the second floor of the Quimoda IT Center in the North Reclamation Area in Cebu City.

This after President Benigno Aquino III signed the contract worth P48 million covering office space rental for five years.

Earlier, the Cebu Port Authority sent a notice to BOC-Cebu to vacate the CPA-owned building that they are occupying for several years with a rent of P50,000.00 per month.

However, in a memorandum of agreement signed between CPA and BOC dated September 30, 2005, the rental was waived.   The MOA expired on September 30, 2010 and was not renewed.

The signing of the contract will also put an end to BOC’s desire to transfer to their own century-old building, which was converted into Malacañang sa Sugbo by then President Gloria Arroyo in 2004.

Former BOC Cebu District Collector Ronnie Silvestre earlier requested for their transfer to the Malacañang sa Sugbo as the building they are occupying now sustained huge cracks due to the 6.9 magnitude earthquake that hit Cebu and the rest of Central Visayas last year.

Newly-assumed BOC Cebu District Collector Edward dela Cuesta said that since the documents were already signed by the President, the allocation of funds for the rental is now in the hands of the Department of Budget and Management.

“Nasa kamay na nang DBM. Hopefully, within the year, we will transfer at our new office,” dela Cuesta said.

He also explained that aside from the P800,000 per month or P48 million for five years rental, another P20 million is needed for the partition of the office space and installation of computers.

Power and water cost is also not included yet in the monthly rental as the amount is solely for the use of the office space. —/MBG (FREEMAN)