Customs academy proposed

Bureau of Customs (BOC) chief Renato Ampil has announced the establishment of a school for customs administration within the customs zone.

The school, tentatively named the National Customs Academy of the Philippines (NCAP), is envisioned to become the main venue for skills development and a source of personnel to man the Philippine customs service in the coming years.

"The academy is expected to be operational in the year 2002, BOC’s centennial year," Ampil said.

The Office of the Customs Commissioner (OCOM) also said the NCAP will serve both as gift and an enduring legacy to the bureau.

Officials said among the benefits for selected BOC officials and employees who will be admitted to the academy are free board and lodging and other logistical support.

Ampil said the NCAP will be based inside the customs zone preferably at the Port of Manila. The old and crumbling former Bureau of Printing building, now being temporarily used as a warehouse by the Commission on Elections (Comelec), is being eyed for demolition to give way for the NCAP building.

The academy will feature a dormitory for 80 persons, a director’s office, a faculty room, offices for client services, training and development, educational support services and administration.

There will also be a conference room and lecture rooms with audio-visual facilities, an information technology training room, an auditorium for 1,000 persons, dining facilities and a gym.

Funds for the NCAP operations will be taken from the BOC general appropriations for human resource development. – Jerry Botial