2 weeks needed for BOC reshuffle

MANILA, Philippines - Customs Commissioner Rufino Biazon needs another two weeks to complete the reshuffle of 54 district and sub-port collectors.

Presiding over a personnel movement meeting yesterday, Biazon said the reshuffle of 17 district collectors and 37 sub-port collectors will be done by the second week of August since he has to first get the approval of Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima.

His recommendation on who would be retained or reassigned will be based on the following criteria: 40 percent on their capability to meet their revenue targets; 30 percent on their accomplishment in enforcing the anti-smuggling campaign; and the remaining 30 percent on stakeholders’ feedback.

Only 16 district collectors were present in the meeting since Limay port district collector Elvira Cruz was out of the country on official business.

Currently, the BOC has 30 sub-port collectors because seven sub-ports are vacant and under the supervision of district collectors.

During the hour-long meeting, Biazon said they discussed the direction of reforms.

“We are looking at this as an opportunity for the BOC, whose image has been tarnished,” he said.

“While we are hurting from what has happened to the agency, we should use this as an opportunity to show that we are following (the call for reform) of the President.”

After the meeting, the collectors came out with a one-page statement of support for the administration’s daang matuwid (straight path) campaign and Biazon’s call for reforms.

“Wherefore, we, the district and sub-port collectors, hereby commit ourselves to willingly implement measures to prevent and suppress smuggling, improve revenue collection, facilitate trade in a secured manner, and promote professionalism and integrity in the service,” read the statement.

The collectors are also one in supporting a modern and efficient Customs administration.

Manila International Container Port (MICP) District Collector Ricardo Belmonte said he would not voice any complaint if he would be transferred to another district.

“I have been ready for the past 34 years,” he said. “You look at my record and you try to see if I questioned any reassignment.”

Cagayan de Oro District Collector Lourdes Mangaoang said some district collectors directly expressed their support to Biazon during the meeting.

“All of us gave our commitment to reforms in the BOC and all of us we are hoping that through these reforms we would be able to redeem the reputation of the BOC,” she said.

Mangaoang believes Biazon must always have a free hand to create his own team.

“So far, the commissioner has only been (in office) for 20 months and this is not his team,” she said. “This was the setup when he came in.”

Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) District Collector Carlos So, the only collector who did not turn in a letter of relinquishment, said he had already sent a text message to the Biazon last Monday expressing his support.

“I recognize his leadership,” he said. “I go along with him with his plans to cleanse the leadership of misfits and scalawags.”

However, So said Biazon does not need to ask the collectors to submit their letters of relinquishment as the Tariffs and Customs Code of the Philippines gives him authority to reorganize the BOC and move personnel with the approval of the finance secretary.

“I will abide by the decision of the commissioner and his exercise of sound judgment and discretion,” he said.

Biazon said movement of the BOC police personnel and intelligence agents is looming.

“Yesterday, I signed a memorandum directing the deputy directors for intelligence (Danilo Lim) and for enforcement (Horacio Suansing Jr.) to submit to me their proposed reorganization plan,” he said.

“We need to start from scratch, so to speak, to heed the call of the President, so in order that there would be a mindset of reform, there should be personnel movement,” he said.