Photo: Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Y. Rubio warmly welcomes Atty. Ricardo Uy Morales II (right) as the new District Collector of the BOC Port of Cebu.
LAST MONDAY, August 7, the Bureau of Customs seemed to be hit by a thunderbolt when a Customs Personnel Order (CPO) reshuffling dated August 3, 2023, signed by Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Y. Rubio and approved by Finance Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno, affecting several major collection districts like the Port of Cebu was leaked in social media.
But it looks like a blessing in disguise for the BOC Port of Cebu as it is now — hopefully — in good hands with District Collector Atty. Ricardo “Ricky” Uy Morales II assuming the BOC-POC leadership by virtue of the Rubio CPO.
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.
As the new district collector of the premiere Port of Cebu, Morales is expected to consistently meet and surpass the revenue collection target for the remaining months of 2023.
Atty. Ricky, however, is no stranger to Cebu as he previously served as Deputy Collector for Operations of the Subport of Mactan headed by Collector Gerardo “Gerry” Campo.
Fate must be kind to Morales when on June 5 this year President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Romualdez Marcos Jr. appointed him as Collector of Customs VI, vice Atty. Elvira Cruz who was appointed by former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.
Customs insiders are baffled why there are still some Duterte appointees at the BOC when out of delicadeza they should have tendered their courtesy resignations when BBM was elected President.
Are they kapalmuks?
Anyway, last June 13, by virtue of a CPO Morales was appointed as District Collector of Port of Clark while Ugay was plucked from Port of Ilo-ilo to head the Port of Cebu.
It can be noted that the Port of Clark under Morales has exceeded its monthly target collection in July by 10.39 percent.
According to the state-run Philippine News Agency (PNA), a report from the Collection Division showed that BOC-Port of Clark has collected P396.91 million as against its goal of P359.55 million.
The actual collection was also 21.51 percent higher compared to last year’s collection of P326.64 million.
A staunch anti-illegal drugs crusader, Morales has also intensified the anti-illegal drugs drive at the Port of Clark under his watch which led to the seizure of some P68.65 million worth of shabu, high-grade marijuana or “kush” and marijuana-infused vape cartridges in July alone.
I really hope that Atty. Morales can make the Port of Cebu great again by exceeding the monthly collection target.
At the same time, I’m also crossing my fingers that he will be on the level in addressing legitimate concerns of both Port of Cebu and Subport of Mactan employees as well as the Customs brokers.
A number of Customs brokers — who requested anonymity for fear of reprisal — have been complaining of what they call “impractically high” duties and taxes on their shipments which they liken to killing the proverbial goose that lays the golden egg.
(ai/mnm)
