Finance Secretary Ralph G. Recto visited the Bureau of Customs (BOC) Port of Cebu and the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Regional Office in Cebu City, where he commended personnel for their key role in funding the nation’s progress and urged them to continuously uphold integrity in serving the Filipino people.
“Walang may monopolyo ng dangal sa gobyerno. Integrity lives in those who fight for it every day, not for credit, but because it is the right thing to do. At alam kong marami sa inyo araw-araw, pinipili pa rin ang tama. Pinipili pa ang serbisyo para sa bayan. So allow me to take this opportunity to thank all of you,” he said in a message.
“Let us continue to restore trust, hindi sa salita lang kundi sa gawa. Let’s prove that the civil service can be both competent and clean. Hindi perpekto, pero makatao,” he added.
This year, the BIR and BOC carry the enormous responsibility of raising PHP 4.33 trillion in tax revenues, according to the Budget of Expenditures and Sources of Financing (BESF) 2025.
Of this, BIR must collect PHP 3.23 trillion—or about PHP 8.8 billion daily—while BOC is tasked with PHP 1.06 trillion, equivalent to roughly PHP 3 billion a day.
During the visit, Secretary Recto and BOC Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno were given a comprehensive tour of the Port of Cebu, including the Customer Care Center designed to streamline client services as well as the assessment and operations offices that ensure proper monitoring and protection of all commodities entering the country.
In a briefing led by Cebu District Collector Felipe Geoffrey K. De Vera IV, the Finance Chief was given a step-by-step walkthrough on the Bureau’s Electronic-to-Mobile (E2M) System, which facilitates smoother transactions.
E2M streamlines import and export processes by computerizing manual procedures, improving efficiency, and facilitating trade through features like online payment options and automated random assignment of entries to examiners.
For January to August 2025, the Port of Cebu’s collections already rose by 7.54%, reaching PHP 31.71 billion.
After the BOC, Secretary Recto proceeded to the BIR’s Revenue District Office No. 081 and Revenue Region No. 13, where Deputy Commissioner Teresita M. Angeles and Regional Director Antonino L. Ilagan walked him through the agency’s key frontline services and digital initiatives to boost efficiency and uphold integrity.
Among these are the Enhanced TIN Card Issuance (eTCI) system, which eliminates fake TIN cards through real-time processing, and the Electronic Local Access for Generation and Interactive Information (eLAgii) system, which clears audit backlogs and enhances productivity to better serve the taxpayers.
From January to August 2025, RDO No. 081 has already collected PHP 13.10 billion, 12.29% higher than last year.
Secretary Recto conveyed the Department of Finance’s (DOF) full support to the employees and to the agencies’ initiatives to better serve the people and ensure reliable revenues to fund the nation’s needs.
“Tandaan niyo po, nandito ang DOF, todo suporta sa inyo. And we see your hard work,” he said.
“I see you as the unsung heroes of the bureaucracy— and I stand proudly with you. Without your quiet but relentless work, the government cannot fulfill its promises. The nation cannot move forward,” he stressed.
Joining Secretary Recto were Chief of Staff and Undersecretary Maria Luwalhati C. Dorotan Tiuseco, Undersecretary Charlito Martin R. Mendoza, and Assistant Secretary Euvimil Nina Asuncion.
Apart from the visit, Secretary Recto also met with all BOC district collectors.
The DOF team was also in Cebu for the Visayas leg of the Philippine Economic Briefing (PEB), which provided investors with updates on the country’s strong economic outlook and investment opportunities. The event gathered 500 business leaders and guests.
