MANILA, Philippines - The revamp of district collectors at the Bureau of Customs (BOC) may no longer be implemented, with Customs Commissioner Ruffy Biazon widely expected to leave the agency soon to prepare for his senatorial bid.
Government sources said the revamp, announced last year, did not get the go-signal from Malacañang and as such, may no longer push through at least under Biazon’s watch.
In December last year, Biazon announced he would be changing the assignments of district collectors.
He said that a collector’s ability to meet assigned targets was part of the criteria or basis for the revamp, which he planned in the first quarter of 2012.
Other factors include work attitude and ability to abide by the directives from the Office of the Commissioner.
However, even without the revamp of district collectors, Biazon has implemented some major changes in the bureau such as in the Office of the Commissioner.
In October last year, the BOC chief has issued a memorandum that officially started the streamlining process of the bureau’s personnel organization.
Biazon said there are so many non-organic personnel who have been performing the functions supposedly assigned only to BOC organic personnel.
During his inaugural speech upon assumption as the new BOC chief in September 2010, Biazon said to succeed in the campaign against smuggling and to meet the government’s revenue targets, reforms must be introduced in the BOC system.
Biazon is expected to run for senator in the May 2013 elections but has yet to make an official announcement regarding his decision. Budget and Management Secretary Florencio Abad has been quoted as saying that the Customs chief is a possible senatorial candidate under the Liberal Party ticket.
Among the names that cropped up as his successor should his senatorial bid push through are former Customs Commissioner Alberto Lina and Davao City Vice-Mayor Rodrigo Duterte. - By Iris C. Gonzales
