BUSINESSMAN Alberto D. Lina on Friday assumed office as head of the Bureau of Customs (BOC), replacing John P. Sevilla, who blamed politics for his exit from the bureau.
In his acceptance speech at the turnover ceremony for the post, Lina vowed to continue the reforms that Sevilla had already instituted and to come up with new ideas to make processes in the bureau “more efficient and systematic.”
Lina also acknowledged that he is aware of the obstacles he is facing to efficiently perform his mandate but assured the stakeholders that he is ready to face the challenges considering that it was not his first time to lead the bureau.
Lina served as head of the BOC for five months in 2005, during the term of then-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. He later resigned together with the so-called Hyatt 10 Cabinet members, who resigned from the Arroyo administration owing to alleged irregularities in the 2004 elections.
“Now that I am here, I believe my extensive experience in the private sector will be tested. The primary task assigned to us is not easy, with the end in view of increasing efficiency and improved revenue generation,” Lina said.
He also assured Finance Secretary Cesar V. Purisima, who attended the turnover ceremony, that more reforms will be put in place “with innovation and determination.”
Lina admitted that he will have to focus on the Asean economic integration during his watch. The Asean integration will pave the way for the creation of an Asean Economic Community, a single market among the 10-Asean member-states—Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
The integration is envisioned to usher in a freer flow of goods, services, investment and skilled labor in Southeast Asia with trade barriers out of the way.
“This is no longer just a concept, it is already a reality. This initiative is expected to increase trade and economic activity with our Asean neighbors. It is imperative that we ask ourselves if we are prepared for this impending expansion. We have no other recourse. We must be ready. It is time to engage our “bosses” in an environment revitalized with the spirit of true and efficient service,” Lina said.
Lina said he has come up with five guiding principles in order to prepare the BOC for the Asean economic integration.
These principles include: “Inculcate integrity in our work ethic,” “level the playing field,” “battling corruption,” “addressing port congestion” and “performance management.”
He said corruption should be addressed with a combination of factors such as “increased awareness, appropriate technology and resolute action on violators.”
“We will continue to be as transparent with our data. We will light up the darkest corners where this malady lingers. We will not abandon the campaign to eliminate it. In fact, we will expand it and pursue the campaign with more determination,” he added.
He added that in order for port congestion to be addressed, the BOC should work together with other stakeholders, such as the importers, exporters, forwarders, customs brokers, shipping lines, port owners, port users, trucking companies and all involved in the supply chain.
The BOC will also tap the support of regulatory agencies such as the local government, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, the Philippine Ports Authority, the Department of Public Ways and Highways, the National Police and other institutions.
Sevilla, meanwhile, blamed intense lobbying by some influential groups as one of the factors for his resignation, which President Aquino accepted immediately.
He specifically cited the case of lawyer Teddy Raval, head of BOC’s Intellectual Property Rights Division.
Sevilla said Raval’s appointment to the Enforcement and Security Service (ESS) in lieu of its acting director Willie Tolentino is purportedly being pushed by an influential religious group.
The ESS, according to Sevilla, is a very vital position since it has control over 400 armed police forces of the BOC who are manning the various cargo ports.
Sevilla noted that those lobbying for Raval’s appointment have never mentioned his qualifications and credentials for the post but consistently dropping the religious sect’s name as his backer.
The former BOC chief said he would appear before the Senate and House of Representatives if he would be called to attend a hearing on the allegations of politicking and influence peddling in the agency.
But if the legislators would ask him to disclose names of these individuals meddling in Customs affairs, Sevilla replied, “I will pray over it.”
As this developed, Malacañang vouched for the full compliance of newly appointed Lina, owner of a logistics and brokerage company, with conflict of interest regulations following his appointment to head the BOC.
“Applicable laws are being observed in all presidential appointments,” Communications Secretary Herminio B. Coloma Jr. said. Asked if this meant Lina had already complied with conflict of interest rules and cut ties with Air 21, his company that does business with the bureau he now heads, Coloma assumed this has been done.
(With Butch Fernandez and Catherine Pillas)