Big business went straight to the source.

Representatives from Mars Philippines, Inc., KNE Logistics, and Asian Terminals, Inc. (ATI) marched into the Bureau of Customs – Port of Manila (BOC-POM) for a courtesy call that sent a clear message: legitimate trade thrives only when government and industry are locked in tight, disciplined coordination.

At the center of the meeting was District Collector Rizalino Jose C. Torralba, a customs enforcer known inside the port for running a firm, by-the-book, zero-excuse operation. Torralba didn’t mince words—efficiency is welcome, but compliance is non-negotiable. No shortcuts. No special treatment. No grey areas.

The private sector players laid their cards on the table, sharing operational updates and flagging logistics and port issues that affect the country’s supply chain. But this was no whining session. The discussion was blunt and direct: streamline processes, respect procedures, follow customs laws, and keep everything transparent. Anything less is unacceptable.

Backing Torralba were his two frontline lieutenants—Deputy Collector for Assessment Florante P. Ricarte, the numbers man guarding government revenue like a hawk, and Deputy Collector for Operations Atty. Gerard N. Turiano, the legal enforcer, makes sure rules are applied evenly and without fear or favor. Also present was Formal Entry Division Chief William Herbert R. Baluyut, reinforcing the message that paperwork, declarations, and assessments must be clean and accurate—no games, no loopholes.

Hovering over this hardline stance is the unmistakable imprint of Customs Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno, whose leadership has pushed the Bureau into a no-nonsense, service-oriented, but iron-fisted posture against inefficiency, corruption, and revenue leakage. Under Nepomuceno, the message is loud and clear: Customs is open for business—but only clean business.

The visit ended with handshakes, but more importantly, with a shared warning and a shared promise: cooperate, comply, and coordinate—or get left behind. At the Port of Manila, under Torralba and his team, backed by Commissioner Nepomuceno, the era of lax enforcement is over.

This is customs governance with teeth—and the private sector has been put on notice.

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