Customs commissioner Ariel Napomuceno.
Amid insider reports of a major reshuffle in the Bureau of Customs (BoC) that include the replacement of high ranking appointees of the agency, Customs commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno is unfazed about the nasty rumors as he maintains pushing through with the BoC’s vaunted program for digitalization.
Speaking in a media forum held at posh Cafe Adriatico in Malate, Manila, Nepomuceno disclosed that since there are not funds for acquiring digital technology to upgrade the Bureau’s operational capabilities, they will look into a public-private partnership (PPP) to meet this goal.
The Customs chief revealed that based on the Bureau’s proposed budget hearing, only ₱5.9 billion has been allotted to the agency for 2027.
He added, however, that lawmakers have expressed consideration to their request for ₱10 billion more to cover the needed funds in order for the BoC to fulfill its mandate.
In the meantime, Nepomuceno also shared that the BoC is keen on regularizing at least 82 percent of its 6,000 personnel across the country, 16 percent of which of the total positions are occupied by regular plantilla staff.
“We will be doing this to exact accountability and responsibility on our employees, who have been with us for so long,” he stressed.
