New Customs Chief  Vows to Build on Record Gains

New Customs Chief  Vows to Build on Record Gains

By Wilma N Yamzon – Thenationweek.com  

July 2, 2025

MANILA, Philippines – The Bureau of Customs (BOC) officially entered a new era this week as Ariel Nepomuceno assumed the role of commissioner on Tuesday, July 1, 2025.

A seasoned public servant with a proven track record in leadership and enforcement, Nepomuceno inherits an agency riding a wave of success, poised to further modernize and solidify its role as a vital pillar of the Philippine economy.

Nepomuceno previously served as executive director of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council and Undersecretary of the Office of Civil Defense.

He is also a veteran of the customs bureau, having held the positions of deputy commissioner of the Enforcement Group (2013-2017) and assistant commissioner (2017-2018).

His knowledge of the agency, coupled with his broad public administration expertise, positions him to effectively lead the BOC.

“I am fully committed to President (Ferdinand) Marcos’ directives,” Nepomuceno stated upon his assumption of office.

He vowed to focus on boosting revenue collection, facilitating legitimate trade, combating smuggling, and fostering a culture of integrity within the workforce.

He stressed that he would build upon the foundation laid by his predecessor while strategically innovating in areas such as digitalization, enforcement strategies, and stakeholder engagement.

Outgoing Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio, who served from February 2023 to June 2025, expressed his support for Nepomuceno and the agency’s ongoing transformation.

Rubio’s tenure was marked by significant achievements, including record-breaking revenue collections.

Under Rubio’s leadership, the BOC surpassed annual targets, collecting P883 billion in 2023 and about P916 billion in 2024.

Simultaneously, enforcement efforts saw a dramatic increase, with seizures of illicit goods soaring from P43.29 billion in 2023 to P85.16 billion in 2024, achieved through over 2,100 operations.

This demonstrated a significantly strengthened anti-smuggling posture.

Rubio’s administration also championed lasting digital reforms, automating 161 out of 166 core customs processes, achieving a 96.99% digitalization rate. This dramatic reduction in face-to-face transactions was further bolstered by the launch of key trade facilitation tools, including the Enhanced e-Travel Customs System, the Overstaying Cargo Tracking System, the ATA Carnet Monitoring System, and the National Customs Intelligence System.

These platforms streamline declarations, track cargo in real-time, and integrate data sharing across agencies, leading to faster and more transparent border clearance.

With Nepomuceno now at the helm, the BOC is strategically positioned to further enhance its role as a key institution in revenue collection, trade facilitation, border protection, and public service delivery, all while upholding the principles of professionalism, transparency, and integrity.

The focus remains on building a customs administration that is not only efficient and effective but also trusted and respected by the public and the international community.