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Bureau of Customs-Manila International Container Port district collector Felipe Geoffrey De Vera highlighted the importance of collaboration with the private sector as he vowed to pursue reforms towards a more efficient processing system
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He noted that private sector feedback and experience help BOC improve its policies, strengthen enforcement, and “build confidence in our processes”
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He also acknowledged the need to adopt innovations as global trade evolves
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De Vera officially took over BOC-MICP on December 15, 2025
Bureau of Customs-Manila International Container Port (BOC-MICP) district collector Felipe Geoffrey De Vera highlighted the importance of collaboration with the private sector as he vowed to pursue reforms towards a more efficient processing system.
“At the Bureau of Customs, particularly at MICP, we remain committed to improving how we serve you. We continue to push for reform, streamline process, and enhance system to reduce unnecessary delays,” De Vera said in a speech during the recent Benefits of Using ATA Carnet forum organized by PortCalls and BOC.
He said dialogues with the private sector are valuable, noting that their feedback and experience help BOC improve its policies, strengthen enforcement, and “build confidence in our processes.”
“In many ways customs and the trade community do not merely interact, we move along the same path… We share the responsibility of ensuring that goods are processed securely sufficiently and without unnecessary delay,” he said.
“We serve the same economy, the same industries and ultimately the same Filipino people who depend on a reliable flow of goods. Like you, we operate under certain pressure for accuracy, compliance and speed… Our shared challenge is to strike that right balance – enforcing the law while enabling legitimate trade and protecting revenue while supporting growth and ensuring that fairness without sacrificing efficiency. This balance will only be achieved through cooperation and mutual trust,” he said.
De Vera officially took over BOC-MICP on December 15, 2025, succeeding Rizalino Jose Torralba, who is now district collector of BOC-Port of Manila.
“There is much to be accomplished in the months and years ahead,” De Vera said, noting that “global trade continues to evolve, technology is reshaping and expectations in the business community continue to rise.”
“To keep pace, we must remain open to innovation, committed to integrity and united in purpose,” he added.
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