DTI Chief Okay with Military Taking Over BOC

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez on Wednesday said there is nothing wrong with the decision of President Rodrigo Duterte to temporarily place the Bureau of Customs (BOC) under military control.

This, despite concerns that it is a critical time to have the reorganization in the BOC with the incoming peak season.

Earlier, Senator Nancy Binay said placing the BOC under military control might slow down processes in ports that would lead to congestion.

“I believe military will be there to help in the enforcement and adding better controls, lessening or eliminating corruption without affecting the smoother workflow and processing of documents in the BOC,” Lopez told reporters in a text message.

“According to DOF (Department of Finance), the efficient and honest workforce familiar in the operations will continue to be there,” he added.

Duterte fired BOC executives, while transferring former Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña to the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority amid the PHP6.8-billion shabu shipment that slipped past the BOC.

“I believe in the wisdom of the President — applying new ways to solve perennial problems. If you try applying same solutions to same old problems, something must be wrong,” the DTI chief noted.

“It’s the President’s unique approach to old problems,” Lopez added. (PNA)