DETERMINED TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE, District Collector Maritess “Meeks” Martin has accepted her new challenge to head the Bureau of Customs – Port of Davao with much enthusiasm and full of hope that the premiere collection district in the South “will soar like an eagle.”

“We shall proceed to perform our mandate, advocating and adhering to the Five-Point Priority Programs of our respectable Commissioner Bienvenido Y. Rubio with even more resilience, carrying out additional tasks to protect our port from all forms of smuggling, enhance revenue collection effort, coupled with goodwill and rapport with each other and our stakeholders,” Collector Martin declared in her inaugural message.

There’s no doubt about that as Collector Meeks — as Martin is fondly called — successfully steered the BOC Port of Subic for several years by consistently exceeding its monthly collection target.

To recall, despite the sluggish import and export activities due to inflation and the continuing Ukraine-Russia crisis, the BOC-POS under her guidance and leadership has posted an annual collection of more than P48 billion, exceeding its 2022 annual collection target by at least P7.1 billion.

Last February, Martin attended the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Network of Anti-Corruption Authorities and Law Enforcement Agencies Meeting hosted by the United States held in Palm Springs, California.

She was also among the select BOC delegates who attended the Feb. 14-21 meeting of APEC for this year. 

Although her transfer to the Port of Manila (POM) came as an unexpected surprise, Collector Meeks gracefully assumed her new assignment as district collector of the national capital region’s premier port on May 15, 2023.

But barely had she warmed her seat at the POM, she was again transferred to the Port of Davao and last Monday, August 14, Collector Meeks formally assumed the position of district collector of the BOC Port of Davao.

Amidst an atmosphere of anticipation and renewed enthusiasm, Collector Martin underscored her commitment to steering the port toward greater efficiency, collaboration, and community engagement.

Under Coll. Martin’s leadership, the Bureau of Customs – Port of Davao is expected to soar like an eagle and continue its pivotal role in promoting efficient trade operations, revenue generation, and fostering collaboration among stakeholders while ensuring robust border protection measures. (ai/mnm)