When disaster struck Southern Mindanao, the Bureau of Customs Port of Cagayan de Oro did not sit back and wait for others to move.

Under the aggressive and hands-on leadership of District Collector Atty. Manuel “Manny” Zurbito Jr., the Port launched a full-scale humanitarian offensive to bring relief to communities devastated by the powerful 7.8-magnitude earthquake that rocked Mindanao and battered parts of the SOCCSKSARGEN Region.

While many talk about public service, Zurbito and his team delivered it.

Showing that Customs is more than a revenue-generating agency, the Port of Cagayan de Oro mobilized its entire network in a week-long donation drive that transformed compassion into concrete action.

Joining the effort were the Mindanao Container Terminal under Collector Nasrudin D. Guro, the Subport of Iligan led by OIC Collector Elsa F. Rebosura, and the Subport of Ozamiz headed by Collector Ernie E. Lacpao, all working under a unified mission championed by Zurbito.

The campaign gathered critical relief supplies—from rice and ready-to-eat meals to hygiene kits and other basic necessities—destined for families struggling to recover from one of the most destructive earthquakes to hit the region in recent years.

But for Zurbito, this was never about publicity.

It was about leadership under pressure.

It was about proving that government institutions can respond with speed, urgency, and heart when citizens need help the most.

The relief goods were formally turned over to the Port of Davao for distribution to isolated and hard-to-reach communities, ensuring that aid reaches those who need it most and not merely those who are easiest to reach.

Zurbito’s initiative sends a powerful message: Customs officers are not confined to ports, warehouses, and cargo terminals—they stand on the frontlines of national service.

At a time when calamities continue to test the resilience of Filipino communities, Collector Manny Zurbito has demonstrated that leadership is measured not only by collections and accomplishments but by the willingness to extend a helping hand when lives are hanging in the balance.

In the midst of devastation, the Port of Cagayan de Oro proved that the spirit of bayanihan remains alive—and Collector Manny Zurbito made sure that spirit translated into action.

Because in times of crisis, true leaders do not wait for instructions.

They move.

And Collector Manny Zurbito moved first.

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