APPARENTLY COMMITTED TO CONTRIBUTE in propelling the country’s economy, newly-installed Bureau of Customs (BOC) Port of Cebu District Collector, Atty. Ricardo Uy Morales II, CESE (Career Executive Service Eligibility), has declared his three-points “marching order” to the men and women in the premier port of the reputed Queen of the South.
“As the new District Collector of the Port of Cebu, my marching order is to perform our three-fold mandate of revenue collection, trade facilitation, and border protection to the best of our ability,” Morales said.
Last June 5, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Romualdez Marcos Jr. appointed Morales as Collector of Customs VI, vice Atty. Elvira Cruz who was one of the appointees of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte at the BOC.
Prior to his June 5 presidential appointment, Morales served as Deputy Collector for Operations of the Subport of Mactan headed by Collector Gerardo “Gerry” Campo.
Last June 13, by virtue of a Customs Personnel Order (CPO) signed by Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Y. Rubio and approved by Finance Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno, Morales was appointed as District Collector of BOC Port of Clark.
However, by August 3 another CPO was issued moving Morales to BOC Port of Cebu.
Despite his short stint at the BOC Port of Clark, it has recorded significant accomplishments in revenue collection, border protection, and trade facilitation.
Under Morales’ leadership, the BOC Port of Clark has collected P396.91 million as against its goal of P359.55 million.
At the BOC Port of Cebu, Morales replaced his “worthy Brother Mason” District Collector Ciriaco “Dhucky” DG Ugay who was transferred to BOC Port of Subic in this latest Customs reshuffle.
“I expect your commitment to help the Port achieve its monthly targets. I earnestly call for your unwavering support and dedication to bolster productivity and efficiency in port operations. I believe that our close cooperation will ensure the Port’s exemplary performance this year under the guidance and leadership of Commissioner Bienvenido Y. Rubio. Let us provide the best service that our stakeholders truly deserve,” Morales stressed during his inaugural flag-raising ceremony after his assumption as the new District Collector of the Port of Cebu last August 14.
Earlier, on April 11, Morales reaffirmed the pivotal role of BOC Port of Cebu under his leadership in promoting economic growth and stability during the Philippine Economic Briefing held at the Marco Polo Plaza in Cebu City.
The event, jointly organized by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Investor Relations Group (BSP-IRG) and the Department of Finance (DOF), brought together prominent leaders, government officials, and industry experts under the theme “Agenda for Prosperity: Economic Transformation Towards Inclusivity and Sustainability.”
Marking its attendance at this significant gathering, the BOC Port of Cebu demonstrated its dedication in facilitating international trade, ensuring security, and contributing to the overarching goals of the nation’s economic transformation.
This commitment was further underscored by the Port’s Enforcement and Security Service (ESS) and Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) personnel who rendered service to facilitate, accommodate and support to the Finance Secretary during the event.
“We are honored to have contributed to the success of the Philippine Economic Briefing and supported the realization of the nation’s economic aspirations. Our unwavering commitment to secure efficient customs practices directly aligns with the goals of inclusivity and sustainability, and reinforces our contribution to a robust Philippine economy,” Morales vowed. (ai/mnm)
