Customs Cebu strengthens data-driven reforms

CEBU, Philippines — In a move to advance data-driven reforms and improve service delivery, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) Port of Cebu recently held a two-day capacity building activity following the successful implementation of its time release study (TRS) for 2025.

The TRS is a globally recognized tool developed by the World Customs Organization (WCO) to measure the average time it takes for goods to be released from arrival at the port to final clearance. It is widely used as a key performance indicator in trade facilitation and customs modernization efforts.

The sessions, conducted at the Port of Cebu, aimed to bolster the port's internal capacity to interpret TRS data, identify operational bottlenecks, and implement targeted reforms to improve trade facilitation and service efficiency.

According to the BOC-Port of Cebu, the initiative forms part of a broader strategy to institutionalize performance-based governance and reaffirm the Port's commitment to a faster, more transparent, and responsive customs process that supports national economic development.

The sessions drew active participation from customs officers representing various divisions, offices, and units. Discussions were further enriched by the expertise of top BOC personnel, including Romy Lloyd So, Assistant Chief of the MICP Customs Container Control Division; Michael Macapagal Jr., PPRD MAA III; Joel Espejo, Head of the POM Customer Care Center; and Basilisa Absalon, IT Officer II of MISTG.

“The value of the Time Release Study lies not just in the numbers, but in how we respond to them. It is a mirror that shows us where we excel and where we must act,” said Deputy Collector for Assessment Atty. Marc Anthony C. Patriarca.

Patriarca emphasized that the initiative is a valuable opportunity to convert insights into actionable decisions that benefit the public and the trading community.

The findings of the TRS will serve as a roadmap for the port’s continued efforts to streamline procedures, enhance automation, and improve client engagement—initiatives closely aligned with the BOC’s modernization agenda and the government’s drive to enhance ease of doing business.

Under the leadership of district collector Atty. Felipe Geoffrey K. De Vera the Port of Cebu remains firmly committed to transforming information into innovation—paving the way for an efficient, transparent, and globally competitive customs service for the Filipino people. — (FREEMAN)