Bernie Anabo Jr.
When it comes to revenue collection and getting the job done, Customs District Collector Arnaldo “Arnie” Saulong is making his presence felt!
The Bureau of Customs (BOC) Collection District X, under Saulong’s leadership, has delivered another impressive performance, with the Port of Cagayan de Oro surpassing its September 2026 revenue target and earning recognition as one of the Top 3 Ports in auction performance.
This is not just another collection report gathering dust on a government desk. These figures put the spotlight on a district demonstrating that discipline, teamwork, and determined leadership can translate into measurable results.
At the October 15 Collectors’ Conference at Rizal Park Hotel in Manila, the Cagayan de Oro port received recognition for its September performance. And the numbers speak loudly!
₱3.716 BILLION! CDO BEATS ITS SEPTEMBER TARGET!
The Port of Cagayan de Oro collected a whopping ₱3.716 billion in September, surpassing its target of approximately ₱3.684 billion by ₱32.25 million, or 0.88%.
For the third quarter, from July to September, the port collected ₱11.712 billion, beating its target of ₱11.303 billion by approximately ₱407.78 million.
Read those figures again!
In a challenging environment where revenue generation, trade facilitation, and border protection must move hand in hand, Collection District X delivered a substantial quarterly surplus over its assigned target.
And the momentum did not start yesterday.
As of September 2026, the port’s cumulative collection had reached ₱33.628 billion. That is a substantial contribution to the national government’s revenue requirements and a performance that deserves public attention.
ARNALDO “ARNIE” SAULONG: RESULTS OVER RHETORIC!
The man at the helm, District Collector Arnaldo “Arnie” Saulong, deserves the spotlight for steering the district through another month of above-target collections.
In government service, speeches and promises are easy. Delivering results is the real test.
Saulong’s challenge is to sustain the momentum, keep personnel focused, strengthen accountability, and ensure that every peso legally due to the government is properly assessed and collected.
The latest figures provide concrete grounds to recognize the district’s performance. They also establish a higher bar for the months ahead.
The message is clear: Cagayan de Oro is not merely chasing its targets—it is exceeding them.
But the mission does not end with collecting revenue. Customs officials must also protect the country’s borders, enforce customs laws, facilitate legitimate trade, and prevent illicit shipments from slipping through the cracks.
That is where leadership must prove its worth every single day.
TOP 3 IN AUCTION PERFORMANCE—ANOTHER FEATHER IN CDO’S CAP!
If the revenue figures were not enough, the Port of Cagayan de Oro also secured a place among the Top 3 Ports in auction performance for September 2026.
The recognition followed a public auction conducted on September 16 by the port’s Auction and Cargo Disposal Division (ACDD), generating ₱3.815 million.
Public auctions, when conducted transparently and in accordance with applicable laws and procedures, help dispose of eligible goods while generating proceeds for the government.
The achievement highlights another important aspect of customs administration: seized, abandoned, or otherwise legally disposable goods must be handled through proper procedures, with transparency and accountability at every stage.
For Saulong and his team, the recognition is a welcome accomplishment—but it also comes with the responsibility to maintain the highest standards of integrity in every transaction.
Revenue collection is important. Transparent enforcement is equally essential. Public trust demands both.
CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE!
Saulong credited the men and women of Collection District X for their dedication, hard work, and collective effort in achieving the district’s results.
That acknowledgment matters.
Behind every billion-peso collection report are customs personnel performing assessments, processing transactions, examining shipments, enforcing regulations, and helping ensure that legitimate trade continues to move.
Leadership may set the direction, but an entire workforce must deliver the results.
The challenge now is to preserve that teamwork, strengthen professional standards, and ensure that performance is sustained rather than celebrated for only one month.
NEPOMUCENO’S IAM PROGRAM: THE REAL TEST IS SUSTAINABILITY!
The district’s performance also aligns with the Integrity, Accountability, and Modernization (IAM) program of Customs Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno.
For Saulong, the task is to translate these principles into everyday practice: honest service, efficient customs operations, stronger border protection, and accountability in every office.
The public should expect nothing less.
Above-target collections must never come at the expense of fair treatment for importers, proper valuation, lawful procedures, or the facilitation of legitimate commerce. Modern customs administration requires both efficiency and integrity.
And as the port moves into the final stretch of 2026, the pressure is on to sustain its collection gains, improve operational performance, and continue protecting government revenue.
THE BOTTOM LINE: KEEP THE MOMENTUM ROARING!
Arnaldo “Arnie” Saulong and Collection District X have delivered figures worthy of recognition: a September collection surplus, a strong third-quarter performance, ₱33.628 billion in cumulative collections through September, and a Top 3 finish in auction performance.
Those are the facts—and they make a powerful case for recognizing the work of the Cagayan de Oro customs team.
But the real measure of leadership is not a single conference citation or a headline-grabbing month. It is the ability to repeat the performance, maintain integrity, enforce the law without fear or favor, and deliver results that benefit the Filipino people.
For Saulong, the mission is far from over. The challenge is to keep the collections rising, the auctions transparent, the borders secure, and public confidence intact.
In the rough-and-tumble world of customs administration, numbers can open the door to recognition. Only consistent performance, honest governance, and accountable leadership can keep that recognition deserved.
Arnie Saulong has put Cagayan de Oro on the performance scoreboard. Now the entire district must keep proving that the results are no fluke—but the product of sustained, disciplined, and integrity-driven public service.
