The Department of Finance (DOF) has returned 21 Customs officials to the Bureau of Customs (BOC) a year after they were detailed at the DOF-Customs Policy Research Office (CPRO) as part of reform measures at the country’s second biggest revenue-collecting agency.
Through several department orders, DOF from September to November this year returned to BOC the following officials after the order for their detail to the CPRO had expired: Tomas Alcid, Priscila Bauzon, Maritess Martin, Adelina Molina, Talek Pablo, Maria Liza Sebastian, Carmelita Talusan, Sonia Irinea Togonon, Rogelio Villagarcia, Lilibeth Sandag, Arnel Alcaraz, Ma. Lourdes Mangaoang, Romalino Valdez, Raymond Ventura, Marietta Zamoranos, Emelita Abaño, Simplicio Domingo II, Remedios Salazar, Fernandino Tuason, Eric Albano, and Richard Rebong.
The returning officials will man the newly formed BOC Compliance Monitoring Unit (CMU) that is tasked to verify compliance with customs laws, regulations, and issuances, and assist in their drafting or revision.
Several BOC officials were detailed at the CPRO starting with 27 BOC collectors in September last year as part of the Aquino administration’s reform of the customs agency. The CPRO, a unit formed at the DOF last year, was intended to be BOC’s think-tank by providing necessary policy and procedural and legislative reforms.
Fifteen of the 27 detailed collectors filed a case against DOF and BOC for their transfer, but the court decided in favor of the government. Some of the detailed officials have already retired or resigned from their posts.
