Bernie Anabo Jr.
THIS is what decisive port leadership looks like!
The Bureau of Customs–Port of Manila (BOC-POM) is showing that customs administration is not merely about collecting duties and taxes—it is about moving trade, listening to stakeholders, solving problems and delivering results.
And at the center of this push is District Collector Rizalino Jose “RJ” C. Torralba, who is making stakeholder engagement a serious weapon in the Port’s drive for a faster, more efficient and more responsive customs operation.
The message from the 3rd Quarter POM-CICAC Meeting held on September 7, 2026 was loud and clear:
POM is not closing its doors to the industry—it is opening them wider!
The meeting brought together POM officials, customs brokers, industry stakeholders and trade partners for direct consultation on operational issues affecting the movement and examination of shipments.
But this was no ordinary meeting.
There was action. There was an agreement. And there was a commitment to deliver.
TORRALBA: LEADERSHIP WITH ACTION!
Collector Torralba took center stage in explaining the significance of the Memorandum of Agreement between POM and the Philippine Chamber of Customs Broker, Inc. (PCCBI).
Then came the moment that mattered:
THE SIGNING.
Torralba and PCCBI President Atty. Norberto V. Castillo formally sealed the agreement, underscoring a shared commitment to strengthen coordination and promote timely and efficient physical examination of shipments.
That is precisely the kind of partnership the trading community needs.
No unnecessary drama.
No endless finger-pointing.
Just government and industry sitting at the same table—and working on solutions.
RICARTE: THE ASSESSMENT FRONTLINE
Also deserving of the spotlight is Deputy Collector for Assessment Florante Ricarte, whose role is critical in ensuring that assessment processes remain responsive, orderly and aligned with the Port’s commitment to efficient customs clearance.
Assessment is where accuracy and speed must meet.
Too slow—and trade suffers.
Too loose—and revenue protection suffers.
The challenge is to get it right.
Ricarte and the assessment team are therefore operating in one of the most crucial pressure points of the Port.
TURIANO: OPERATIONS MEETS THE REAL WORLD
Then there is Deputy Collector for Operations Atty. Gerard Turiano, whose operational portfolio places him directly in the middle of the daily realities of cargo movement, examination and port activities.
This is where policies meet containers.
Where regulations meet deadlines.
And where every delay can have consequences for traders, brokers, importers and the broader economy.
The message is unmistakable:
Operations must move.
And it must move efficiently, transparently and within the rules.
THE OPEN FORUM: NO HOLDS BARRED
Perhaps the most important part of the meeting was the Open Forum.
Stakeholders did not simply listen.
They spoke.
They raised operational concerns, presented observations and offered recommendations.
And instead of allowing these concerns to disappear into bureaucratic limbo, concerned POM officials responded directly.
That is how stakeholder consultation should work.
Raise the problem. Face the problem. Solve the problem.
The Port’s willingness to listen—and more importantly, to respond—is a powerful indicator of an administration that understands that customs modernization cannot happen inside an ivory tower.
NEPOMUCENO’S REFORM DRIVE REACHES THE PORT
This stakeholder-centered approach also reflects the broader leadership direction of BOC Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno.
His reform agenda emphasizes Integrity, Accountability and Modernization—and those principles mean little unless they reach the frontline.
At POM, they are increasingly visible in the push for stronger industry coordination, transparent processes and service-oriented customs administration.
Because modern Customs cannot be built by government alone.
It takes government, brokers, importers, logistics players and industry stakeholders working together—with accountability on all sides.
POM: THE PRESSURE IS ON!
Make no mistake.
The Port of Manila is one of the most strategically important gateways in the country.
The volume is enormous.
The stakeholders are numerous.
The operational pressure is relentless.
That is why leadership matters.
And right now, Torralba, Ricarte and Turiano are carrying a significant part of that responsibility.
The challenge is not simply to hold meetings.
The challenge is to turn meetings into action.
The MOA must produce results.
The concerns raised in the Open Forum must lead to solutions.
And every improvement must ultimately be felt where it matters most:
At the cargo terminal. At the examination area. At the clearance process. And in the experience of legitimate trade.
That is where the real scorecard will be written.
The POM-CICAC meeting has fired the opening shot.
Now comes the harder part:
DELIVER.
Because in modern Customs, partnership is good.
Consultation is better.
But RESULTS are what count.
And with Torralba at the helm, Ricarte strengthening assessment operations, Turiano driving the operational front, and Commissioner Nepomuceno pushing the broader reform agenda—
THE PORT OF MANILA HAS NO EXCUSE BUT TO MOVE FORWARD.
