BATANGAS — No room for complacency!

That was the clear message as DOF Undersecretary for Revenue Operations Group Atty. Rolando T. Ligon Jr. personally visited the Bureau of Customs–Port of Batangas on September 11, 2026, bringing a strong vote of confidence for the continuing reform and performance agenda of the Bureau of Customs.

At the center of the visit was District Collector Carmelita “Mimel” M. Talusan, whose leadership at the Port of Batangas was placed squarely in the spotlight as the port presented its accomplishments, operational milestones and continuing initiatives.

Ligon did not merely inspect the port—he underscored the importance of keeping the momentum going.

LIGON: KEEP THE REFORMS MOVING!

The DOF official congratulated Talusan and the Port of Batangas for their accomplishments and recognized the continuing efforts of the BOC under Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno to strengthen customs administration, improve operations and advance reforms.

The message was unmistakable: performance must be sustained, reforms must be enforced, and public service must keep moving forward.

For Ligon, efficient customs operations are not simply about collecting duties and taxes. They are also about making legitimate trade move faster, reducing unnecessary burdens on stakeholders and ensuring that customs services remain responsive, transparent and accountable.

That puts enormous importance on the frontline leadership of officials like Talusan.

MIMEL TALUSAN: FRONTLINE LEADERSHIP UNDER THE MICROSCOPE

At the Port of Batangas, Collector “Mimel” Talusan is carrying the responsibility of translating national reform policies into actual port operations.

Revenue collection. Trade facilitation. Customs enforcement. Service delivery.

These are not abstract words inside the port. They are daily operational demands.

And with the DOF now closely emphasizing efficiency, good governance and revenue generation, the pressure is on every customs district to deliver.

Talusan’s leadership was highlighted during Ligon’s visit as the Port showcased its accomplishments and ongoing initiatives.

The message from the top is simple: results matter—and so does how those results are achieved.

DOF-BOC TEAMWORK: THE REAL BATTLEFRONT

The visit also underscored the increasingly important partnership between the Department of Finance and the Bureau of Customs.

Ligon emphasized close coordination between the two agencies in pursuing operational efficiency, good governance, revenue generation and the seamless facilitation of legitimate trade.

That coordination is critical.

Customs sits at the intersection of revenue protection, border control and international commerce. Every delay affects business. Every loophole can affect government revenue. Every enforcement failure can create opportunities for illicit trade.

That is why reforms cannot remain on paper.

They must be felt at the ports.

NEPOMUCENO REFORM AGENDA UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT

The Batangas visit also highlighted the reform direction being pursued under Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno, particularly in revenue collection, trade facilitation, customs administration and service delivery.

With Finance Secretary Frederick D. Go providing the broader policy direction at the DOF level, the challenge for the BOC’s frontline offices is to convert policy into measurable operational results.

And Batangas is no exception.

The port must continue to protect government revenue while ensuring that legitimate businesses are not unnecessarily burdened.

NO ROOM FOR BUSINESS AS USUAL

The visit of Undersecretary Ligon sends a powerful signal to the Port of Batangas:

Keep improving. Keep delivering. Keep reforming.

For Collector Talusan, the task is equally clear.

The public expects a customs bureau that can collect what government is legally entitled to collect, facilitate legitimate commerce efficiently, enforce the law fairly and deliver services without unnecessary obstacles.

The Port of Batangas now stands as another frontline test of whether the BOC reform agenda can translate into sustained performance on the ground.

With Ligon pushing for stronger DOF-BOC coordination and Talusan leading the Batangas port operation, the battle cry is clear:

REFORM MUST DELIVER. PERFORMANCE MUST BE SUSTAINED. AND PUBLIC SERVICE MUST COME FIRST.

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