While critics love to talk, the Bureau of Customs – Port of Cagayan de Oro chose to deliver cold, hard numbers.

As 2025 closed, Collection District X didn’t just meet expectations—it blew past them. The port hauled in ₱3.93 billion in December collections, overshooting its target by ₱455.3 million—a 13.09% surplus that sent a clear message: performance still matters in Customs.

At the center of this revenue surge is District Collector Atty. Manuel O. Zurbito Jr., whose leadership turned a challenging year into a decisive win. Slow imports? Rice import bans? External headwinds? None of these became excuses. Instead, Zurbito and his team doubled down on discipline, valuation integrity, and relentless collection efficiency—and the results speak louder than any press release.

Zoom out, and the numbers get even louder.

Collection District X posted a staggering ₱39.47 billion in total revenues for 2025, cementing its status as one of Mindanao’s most powerful revenue generators. From the Port of Cagayan de Oro to the Sub-Ports of Mindanao Container Terminal, Iligan, and Ozamiz, the district proved that strong leadership across ports translates to strong national coffers.

But this success story doesn’t exist in a vacuum.

The Cagayan de Oro surge mirrors the reform-driven direction set by Customs Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno, whose push for transparency, accountability, and operational efficiency is no longer just policy—it’s producing measurable results on the ground. Under Nepomuceno’s watch, collection districts are being forced to choose: perform or be exposed.

Cagayan de Oro chose to perform.

This isn’t just about hitting targets. It’s about restoring faith in the Bureau, proving that Customs can be both firm and fair, aggressive yet accountable. In an agency long plagued by doubt and suspicion, numbers like these are a powerful rebuttal.

As 2026 looms, one thing is clear:
When leadership is decisive and reforms are enforced, revenue follows.

And in Cagayan de Oro, the cash didn’t just flow—it roared. 💥

 

 

Atty. Manuel Zurbeto Jr District Collector

Port of Cagayan Bureau of Customs

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