BOC to revive Water Patrol Division
MANILA, Philippines - This year, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) will have an additional law enforcement unit that will help monitor smuggling at sea.
BOC Deputy Commissioner for Enforcement Ariel Nepomuceno announced that the agency’s proposal to revive its Water Patrol Division “is already approved.”
The bureau used to have a Water Patrol Division, but it was dissolved reportedly because of financial problems and lack of equipment.
The BOC has asked for a P20-million budget to purchase two new patrol boats to jumpstart the revival of its water operations unit. The boats will be used for boarder patrol functions and counter-smuggling at sea.
At the moment, BOC has no watercraft and depends on other enforcement agencies in preventing and monitoring smuggling at sea.
Nepomuceno said the purchase of the new watercraft would go along with BOC’s ongoing recruitment of personnel. He noted that by having trained personnel on operation, the agency would have a more efficient enforcement capability.
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