The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has thrown its weight behind the reform drive of the Bureau of Customs, signaling strong international confidence in the leadership of Customs Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno and Port of Cebu District Collector Alexandra Yap-Lumontad, following a high-level courtesy visit to the Port of Cebu.

Customs officials said the visit was not ceremonial, but a clear endorsement of ongoing structural reforms that have positioned Cebu as a critical hub for trusted and compliant trade.

Under Commissioner Nepomuceno, the Bureau of Customs has accelerated its modernization agenda—tightening valuation and classification controls, expanding the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) Program, and aligning Philippine customs practices with global standards. The Port of Cebu has emerged as one of the strongest test cases of that reform push.

Collector Yap-Lumontad, who heads the Port of Cebu, has been at the forefront of implementing these measures, transforming the port into a model for efficiency and compliance. During the JICA visit, discussions focused on expanding AEO participation, strengthening rules of origin enforcement, and deepening technical cooperation—key pillars aimed at speeding up legitimate trade while closing the door on abuse and misdeclaration.

JICA expert Shigeaki Katsu underscored Japan’s support by noting that the agency had already promoted the AEO Program to Japanese companies operating in Cebu even before the visit. Customs officials said the move reflects a high level of trust in the Bureau’s systems and leadership, as foreign investors typically back only programs they believe are credible and enforceable.

Yap-Lumontad stressed that Cebu Customs is no longer content with incremental improvements, positioning AEO accreditation as the benchmark for doing business with the port. Compliant traders are rewarded with faster clearance and simplified procedures, while enforcement against violators is being intensified.

Officials pointed out that the reforms in Cebu are part of a broader national strategy directed by Commissioner Nepomuceno, who has consistently framed customs efficiency as both an economic and security imperative. His leadership, they said, has made international cooperation more results-driven rather than symbolic.

The JICA visit, customs authorities emphasized, sends a clear message: global partners are watching—and investing—where leadership delivers.

At the Port of Cebu, under Nepomuceno’s reform agenda and Yap-Lumontad’s firm execution, the Bureau of Customs is no longer asking for credibility on the world stage.

It is asserting it.

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