Customs Cebu head to be replaced despite exceeding target by P1.2B

CEBU, Philippines - The Bureau of Customs (BoC)-Cebu ( was able to collect a surplus of P1.235 billion over its 2016 collection target, even if the volume of imports have remained the same the last four years.

But even with that achievement, BOC-Cebu district collector Rico Rey Francis "Koko" Holganza is expected to be replaced soon.

Holganza confirmed that someone is expected to take his post.  He does not know, however, who will replace him.

He said he wants to be in a floating position if he is indeed removed from his post.

In a press conference yesterday, Holganza acknowledged and thanked the unity, cooperation and team effort not just with its personnel but as well as the port stakeholders.

"For 2017, we will try our best not just to meet the goals but to perform even better," Holganza said.

Holganza said that the brokers, shipping lines, Cebu Port Authority, Oriental Port and Allied Services Corporation, Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Philippine Export, among others, have tremendously helped the bureau of its unprecedented achievement.

Data released by BOC-Cebu Collection Division chief Conrado Abarintos showed that their unit was able to collect P18.472 billion against its target collection of P17.235 billion for 2016.

Abarintos said that aside from the Port of Cebu, the Ports of Mactan and Dumaguete have also contributed several millions in their collection, which boosted the bureau's overall productivity this year.

Out of seven, BOC-Cebu is the only billionaire port to have attained a billion peso surplus. Billionaire ports are ports that have an assigned P1 billion collection target per month.

Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Melanie Ng said they continue to advocate closer collaboration between the private and public sector in improving the way they do business and ease in doing business.

"The bureau under Holganza's leadership is giving the business community in Cebu the ease in doing business and it has lower its cost due to (the bureau's) efficient services. He is open in reaching out to us," Ng said.

Fred Escalona, who heads the PhilExport-Cebu, said the export industry is not a big contributor of the bureau's achievement, but they contribute by importing raw materials.

Rene Ledesma, general manager of Evergreen Shipping, said that the bureau's collection could have been bigger if there are more international ships that can dock at the local ports and if Cebu has a much deeper channel at the international port.

Chamber of Customs Brokers Inc.-Cebu Chapter President Jeff Bajao said they are happy that the bureau recognizes their role in attaining the bureau's goal.

Ricky Gantuangco, CCBI-Cebu Chapter vice president, said they always ask importers to file their entries at BOC-Cebu because "of the good system and healthy environment," implemented in BOC-Cebu under Holganza's leadership

To celebrate their feat and signify their unity, BOC-Cebu officials and all the port stakeholders had a "boodle fight" for lunch wherein they ate rice, pork adobo, chicken adobo, dilis and bam-i.  (FREEMAN)