Finance Secretary Frederick D. Go lauded the Bureau of Customs (BOC) for its vital contribution to national development, highlighting its strong revenue performance, digital modernization efforts, and trade facilitation reforms during the Bureau’s 124th Founding Anniversary on February 12, 2026.
In his keynote address, Secretary Go emphasized that robust revenue generation by the BOC is central to sustaining the government’s fiscal strength and delivering on its development priorities.
“Your strong revenue performance directly empowers the whole of government to uphold prudent fiscal management and finance the country’s key priorities,” he said.
He emphasized that the BOC remains the country’s second-largest source of government revenue and that its sustained collection performance is crucial to reducing the fiscal deficit and pursuing investments that drive inclusive growth.
The Finance Chief also commended the Bureau’s adoption of the Department of Finance’s platform for tax and duty exemptions and its continued modernization of internal systems to enhance transparency, compliance, and efficiency.
He reiterated his support for further digitalization to eliminate unnecessary human intervention in critical processes and reinforce integrity across customs operations.
“Improving the ease of doing business, reducing the cost of doing business, and promoting greater predictability are priorities I continue to espouse,” Secretary Go stressed.
The Finance Chief also highlighted the issuance of the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) Guidelines, which align Philippine customs procedures with international best practices. He noted that these reforms have contributed to the Philippines ranking second in Southeast Asia in the United Nations Global Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation.
He likewise credited BOC’s strengthened enforcement initiatives—including tighter cross-border compliance measures—with supporting the country’s removal from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Grey List.
“These achievements send a strong signal that the Philippines is open for business and committed to secure, efficient, and transparent trade,” he said.
Beyond macroeconomic and institutional reforms, Secretary Go underscored people-centered initiatives such as the Balikbayan and OFW Action Center, which ensures the fair and transparent handling of balikbayan boxes, while safeguarding the rights and interests of overseas Filipino workers.
“Our work is not merely about increasing government revenue; it is about fulfilling our economic, security, and developmental objectives,” he emphasized, urging BOC personnel to lead with initiative, integrity, and diligence in service of the Filipino people.
As the Bureau marks 124 years of service under the theme “BOC 124: Integrity in Service, Accountability in Action, Modernization in Governance,” Secretary Go expressed confidence that continued collaboration between government and the private sector will strengthen public trust, foster inclusive prosperity, and sustain the country’s economic momentum.
