-
The Bureau of Customs gains exclusive use of a 10,000-square-meter facility within the Mindanao Container Terminal in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental
-
The dedicated space will serve as a centralized hub for storing, examining, and managing seized goods, with the goal of easing port congestion and accelerating enforcement actions
-
The deal is contained in a MOA signed by BOC, PHIVIDEC Industrial Authority, and Mindanao International Container Terminal Services, Inc on June 9
The Bureau of Customs (BOC) was granted exclusive use of of a 10,000-square-meter facility within the Mindanao Container Terminal (MCT) in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental under a memorandum of agreement it signed with the PHIVIDEC Industrial Authority (PHIVIDEC-IA), and Mindanao International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (MICTSI).
The agreement, consistent with President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.’s directives on improving port efficiency, carves out a dedicated space where customs personnel can carry out enforcement activities without disrupting the movement of legitimate cargo. Under the MOA’s terms, BOC is authorized to use the facility for the temporary storage, examination, custody, handling, safekeeping, and inventory of seized containers, vehicles, and other non-hazardous goods. It will also function as a staging area for enforcement operations, ensuring compliance with customs laws and regulations.
The MOA was signed on June 9 by Customs commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno, PHIVIDEC-IA Administrator and CEO Atty. Joseph Donato Bernedo, and MICTSI president and general manager Aurelio Garcia.
Prior to this arrangement, the absence of a dedicated customs facility posed practical challenges — seized goods were harder to manage, inspections were less streamlined, and enforcement coordination suffered. By centralizing these activities in a single, purpose-designated space, the BOC gains the infrastructure needed to process cases more efficiently, reduce port congestion, and make faster decisions on enforcement actions.
Nepomuceno in a statement underscored the operational significance of the partnership: “This partnership with PHIVIDEC-IA and MICTSI is vital in supporting the Bureau of Customs’ operational requirements. We will ensure that this facility is used properly and in accordance with the law — especially in the proper handling and safekeeping of seized goods. This will further help us address the port’s operational needs, serve the public better, and respond faster.”
The tripartite agreement reflects the broader value of inter-agency and public-private collaboration in building more secure and efficient port infrastructure, BOC said. With clearer processes and improved facilities now in place, the Mindanao Container Terminal is better positioned to support both the free flow of trade and robust customs enforcement in Northern Mindanao, it added.
