PBA chairman gets Customs

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino has named Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) chairman Angelito Alvarez as the new Bureau of Customs (BOC) commissioner, Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima and presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda disclosed yesterday.

Purisima said Alvarez took his oath before him at 9:30 a.m. along with his family.

With his appointment to the BOC, Alvarez relinquishes his post as chairman of the PBA, turning over the job to vice chairman Rene Pardo of B-Meg Derby Ace.

Alvarez informed the league governors, who were having their board meeting, of the news and invited them to the turnover ceremonies.

Purisima said former Bureau of Internal Revenue commissioner Guillermo Parayno, who was earlier reported to be the choice of Mr. Aquino, was a consultant and was being convinced to join them at the BOC.

Sources at the finance department said Parayno would now be named Finance undersecretary in charge of revenue regulation, a position held by Finance Undersecretary Estela Sales.

As undersecretary for revenue generation, Parayno will oversee the operations of both the BOC and the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), now headed by Commissioner Kim Henares.

Henares served as deputy commissioner from 2003 to 2005 during Parayno’s time at the BIR. 

Alvarez is the manager of the basketball team Air21, the trade name of the cargo handling firm Airfreight 2100 Inc., the former local franchisee of US-based Federal Express. Former Customs commissioner Bert Lina owns the company.

Alvarez is also president of BT Titans, Inc., owner of Perf Restaurants, Inc. and master franchisee of Burger King in the Philippines.

He is president of Sumisho Global Logistics Philippines, a joint venture logistics firm owned by Airfreight 2100 and Sumitomo Corp. He also served as senior auditor at SGV and Co.

He is expected to relinquish these positions once he starts his duties as Customs chief.

Alvarez has a Bachelor of Science in Commerce degree, major in Accounting, from the Far Eastern University.

The BOC, the government’s second largest revenue agency, is tasked to collect P275 billion this year. The agency is perennially known for rampant smuggling and corruption but the Aquino administration vowed to address this to plug revenue loopholes and boost state coffers.

The government has programmed to keep the budget deficit at roughly P300 billion this year, revised upward from P293 billion previously.

In a telephone interview, Purisima said Alvarez clarified reports coming out that he had cheated in golf and members of the Alabang Country Club are opposing his appointment.

“He explained it and said it was an unfortunate incident. He is an occasional golfer and the one who cheated was his flight mate,” Purisima said.

“I think some people were just trying to destroy him. But he has the right credentials and knowledge of the industry and the Customs,” he added.

Purisima said the performance of Alvarez would be a better gauge.

He said Mr. Aquino approved the appointment of Alvarez last Monday afternoon, the reason why the President was telling reporters in the morning that there was no BOC chief yet.

He assumed official functions at BOC during formal turnover rites at 11 a.m. yesterday at the BOC, with Purisima and outgoing Customs commissioner Napoleon Morales present.

Purisima said Alvarez would take his oath of office before Mr. Aquino at 2 p.m. Thursday in Malacañang.

Alvarez said that his first orders were to “meet revenue goals, work in close coordination with the BIR to prevent tax leakages, and identify smugglers.”

Alvarez said his advantage was his experience of working with his corporate benefactor LGC chairman Bert Lina, who served as Customs commissioner during the time of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

“I have as an advantage having worked with Mr. Lina, Secretary Purisima, and former BIR commissioner Willie Parayno,” said Alvarez.

“I have been properly trained by two former BOC commissioners and educated early on Customs matters,” he said in the statement.

Alvarez said he plans to improve the image of his office.

“It needs transformation and we have to address the issue of its image,” Alvarez said. “I also hope to create a productive working environment, better salaries and benefits, in order to be able to render quality service and boost government collection.” With Iris Gonzales, Evelyn Macairan