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Manila Bulletin devider Business devider Trade & Industry devider Nepomuceno takes BOC helm, vows continued revenue gains, smuggling crackdown

Nepomuceno takes BOC helm, vows continued revenue gains, smuggling crackdown

Published Jul 2, 2025 09:36 am
Ariel F. Nepomuceno
Ariel F. Nepomuceno
Ariel F. Nepomuceno officially assumed office as the new commissioner of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) on Tuesday, July 1, and vowed to continue the strong performance in revenue collection and anti-smuggling efforts.
Upon his assumption, Nepomuceno affirmed his full commitment to President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.’s directives.
Nepomuceno noted that his focus will be on the agency’s core mandates: boosting revenue collection, facilitating legitimate trade, combating smuggling, and fostering a professional and integrity-driven workforce.
He also emphasized the importance of continuity and collaboration, pledging to build on the gains achieved by the BOC under previous leadership while introducing strategic innovations in digitalization, enforcement, and stakeholder engagement.
Former Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Y. Rubio, who led the bureau from February 2023 to June 2025, expressed his full support for Nepomuceno and the agency’s ongoing transformation.
During Rubio’s tenure, the BOC posted record revenue collections of ₱883 billion in 2023 and approximately ₱916 billion in 2024, consistently surpassing annual targets.
Enforcement gains also increased, with seizures jumping from ₱43.29 billion worth of illicit goods in 2023 to ₱85.16 billion in 2024 through more than 2,100 operations.
Rubio’s administration also pushed lasting digital reforms, automating 161 of 166 core customs processes, achieving a 96.99 percent digitalization rate.
Moreover, key trade facilitation tools were launched by Rubio, including the Enhanced e-Travel Customs System, the Overstaying Cargo Tracking System, the ATA Carnet Monitoring System, and the National Customs Intelligence System.
As Nepomuceno officially takes the helm, the BOC vowed to further strengthen its role as a key institution in revenue collection, trade facilitation, border protection, and public service delivery.
Nepomuceno previously served as Executive Director of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council and Undersecretary of the Office of Civil Defense.
He also held key positions within the BOC, serving as Deputy Commissioner of the Enforcement Group from 2013 to 2017 and Assistant Commissioner from 2017 to 2018.
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