When Customs stops being seen merely as a gatekeeper—and starts becoming a gateway to investment—that is when economic zones begin to move with real momentum.

And in Northern Mindanao, BOC Collection District X Collector Arnaldo “Arnie” Saulong is putting that principle into action.

Saulong’s recent engagement with PHIVIDEC Industrial Authority (PHIVIDEC-IA) Administrator Atty. Donato Joseph J. Bernedo is more than a courtesy call.

It is a loud and unmistakable message:

CUSTOMS IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS—AND READY TO HELP LEGITIMATE INVESTORS GET MOVING.

At the PHIVIDEC-IA Complex in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental, Saulong and his team sat down with PHIVIDEC-IA officials to strengthen cooperation and explore ways to make the economic zone more attractive to investors and business locators.

And this is where the role of a Customs district collector becomes crucial.

The 3,000-hectare PHIVIDEC Industrial Estate, stretching across Tagoloan and Villanueva, is not simply another industrial property.

It is an economic engine with the potential to generate investments, employment, manufacturing activity and additional trade.

But investors do not want bureaucratic roadblocks.

They want clear rules, predictable procedures and government agencies that know how to get things done.

That is precisely where Saulong is putting his stamp.

The BOC Port of Cagayan de Oro, under his leadership, has committed to assist PHIVIDEC locators in understanding customs procedures and requirements while helping prospective investors navigate the accreditation process.

Translation?

LESS CONFUSION. LESS DELAY. MORE FACILITATION.

Saulong was joined by MCT Subport Collector Engr. Elvin Maurice R. Mackay, Deputy Collector for Assessment Atty. Christopher M. Inducil and Deputy Collector for Operations Atty. Mohammad Ben-Usman.

On the PHIVIDEC side were Administrator Bernedo, Deputy Administrator for Operations Atty. Benjamin Mendrano and Board Member Atty. Eduardo Q. Almirante Jr.

This is precisely the kind of government-to-government coordination that can make a difference on the ground.

Because investment does not happen simply because an industrial estate has land.

Investors look at the entire ecosystem.

How fast can they secure approvals?
How predictable are customs procedures?
How efficiently can their goods move?
Can government agencies coordinate instead of passing the buck?

These are not small questions.

They can determine whether an investor chooses to expand, relocate—or look somewhere else.

That is why Saulong’s approach deserves attention.

He is placing the Port of Cagayan de Oro in the conversation not merely as a collection point, but as a strategic partner in economic development.

And that direction is consistent with BOC Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno’s broader push to facilitate legitimate trade, strengthen stakeholder partnerships and build a more business-friendly Customs environment.

But here is the real test:

WORDS MUST BECOME RESULTS.

A meeting is only the beginning.

The real measure will be what happens after the handshakes.

Will investor concerns be acted upon quickly?

Will customs procedures become easier to understand?

Will legitimate businesses receive the assistance they need without compromising revenue protection and border controls?

Will PHIVIDEC locators experience a Customs bureau that facilitates legitimate trade while remaining firm against violations?

That is where Saulong and his team will ultimately be judged—not by photographs, but by performance.

And Northern Mindanao is watching.

For Arnie Saulong, the message is clear:

CUSTOMS CAN PROTECT THE BORDER WITHOUT CLOSING THE DOOR TO INVESTMENT.

That balance is the challenge.

And if the Port of Cagayan de Oro can deliver it, then Saulong’s engagement with PHIVIDEC-IA could become more than another official meeting.

It could be the beginning of a stronger Customs-investment partnership in Northern Mindanao.

Because when legitimate investors knock on the door, government should not make them wait outside.

OPEN THE DOOR.
CLEAR THE PATH.
PROTECT THE REVENUE.
AND LET BUSINESS MOVE.

That is the real battlefield.

And Arnie Saulong is stepping into it.

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