Bureau of Customs (BOC) Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno called on Collection Districts nationwide to sustain their revenue performance while strengthening good governance, transparency, and border protection.

Speaking at the 13th Collectors’ Conference hosted by the Port of Clark on September 23, Nepomuceno cited the BOC’s record ₱664.776-billion collection from January to August 2026, surpassing its adjusted target by ₱5.467 billion and marking the agency’s highest collection for the first eight months of any year.

He said the gains should be matched by stronger efforts against smuggling and other illicit activities. From January to August, the BOC conducted 858 seizure operations involving an estimated ₱22.737 billion worth of illicit cigarettes, dangerous drugs, counterfeit goods, agricultural products, and other smuggled commodities.

Nepomuceno also recognized the contributions of Collection Districts that met or exceeded their revenue targets, including the Ports of Subic and Clark, as well as ports in San Fernando, Legazpi, Iloilo, Cebu, Tacloban, Cagayan de Oro, Zamboanga, Davao, Aparri, and Limay.

The Ports of Surigao, Subic, and Clark were likewise cited for intensified enforcement operations against illicit cigarettes and illegal drugs.

The conference provided Customs leaders an opportunity to align priorities and share best practices in revenue collection, trade facilitation, and border security. Clark District Collector Jairus S. Reyes presented the port’s modernization initiatives, including its website, QueuRite digital queuing system, and employee welfare programs.

Nepomuceno stressed that the BOC’s mandate extends beyond revenue collection, emphasizing the importance of protecting the country’s borders while supporting national development and public service.