MANILA: In what it called a “major reshuffle,” the Bureau of Customs (BOC) has assigned new district collectors in several major ports to replace officials who failed to meet the February collection target.
The BOC said in a statement that Carmelita Talusan, formerly assigned to the Port of Subic, formally assumed her district collector role at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) on Friday, March 15. She replaced former district collector Vincent Philip Maronilla.
Lawyer Lyceo Martinez of the Compliance Monitoring Unit was appointed as the new Zamboanga collector, replacing Jesus Balmores.
Arsenia Ilagan, former NAIA deputy collector for passenger service, assumed her post as Legazpi district collector, replacing lawyer Ma Lourdes Mangaoang.
Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña clarified that Mangaoang was reassiged to boost revenue collection at the country’s main airport.
“Her (Mangaoang’s) assumption in NAIA as deputy collector is not due to poor performance in revenue collection but for her to take a bigger responsibility,” Lapeña said.
The Customs chief also swore into office Jessie Cardona as the head of BOC’s Account Management Office. He was formerly part of the Anti-Terrorism Council Program Management Center.