Bernie Anabo Jr.
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — Customs is not just about collecting billions in revenue and running after smugglers—it is also about opening doors to development, protecting the public interest, and helping build a cleaner, healthier Philippines!
This is the powerful message delivered by the Bureau of Customs–Port of Cagayan de Oro under District Collector Arnaldo “Arnie” M. Saulong, as the port strengthened its partnership with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and its Japanese partners for a vital wastewater treatment facility project at the bustling Cogon Public Market.
On October 6, 2026, Saulong welcomed the JICA delegation, representatives of Hinode Sangyo Co. Ltd. and Original Engineering Consultants Co. Ltd., together with officials from the Cagayan de Oro City Local Government Unit, for discussions on the development of the wastewater treatment facility.
THE BIG BREAKTHROUGH? The BOC–Port of Cagayan de Oro has assisted the city government in securing approval for its import accreditation covering essential machinery and components needed for the project.
That assistance may sound like a technical government procedure, but its potential impact reaches far beyond office walls. It can help facilitate the entry of equipment needed to improve wastewater management and sanitation at one of Cagayan de Oro’s busiest public markets.
SAULONG: CUSTOMS AS A PARTNER IN PROGRESS!
Under Saulong’s leadership, the Port of Cagayan de Oro is demonstrating that effective customs administration means more than processing shipments and enforcing import regulations. It also means working with legitimate stakeholders to facilitate lawful importation and support projects that serve the Filipino people.
The Cogon Public Market wastewater treatment facility is expected to benefit vendors and consumers by supporting better sanitation and improved wastewater management—important steps toward a cleaner and more sustainable public marketplace.
For market vendors, a better-managed environment can contribute to safer and more orderly business operations. For consumers, improved sanitation can help create a more pleasant place to buy everyday necessities. 
This is where government coordination counts: when the right equipment can enter through proper procedures, development projects have a better chance of moving forward.
Saulong’s role in facilitating coordination with the city government and the project’s international partners highlights the importance of responsive public service, regulatory compliance, and efficient customs administration.
JAPANESE PARTNERS, LOCAL GOVERNMENT, ONE DEVELOPMENT GOAL!
The October 6 meeting brought together representatives from Japan and the Cagayan de Oro City LGU to discuss project developments and strengthen coordination.
The delegation included JICA Project Formulation Adviser Ayari Shiba; Kaori Fujita, Director of Hinode Sangyo Co. Ltd.; and Shigeo Hayakawa of Original Engineering Consultants Co. Ltd.
Also present were Temoteo Chavez, CEEBDA representative; Jason Basiculan, Development Management Officer of ORO-TIPC; and Vanessa Lei Talosig, Project Officer of ORO-TIPC.
Their participation underscores the importance of cooperation among international development partners, local authorities, and national government agencies in advancing projects with tangible public benefits.
The challenge now is to sustain that coordination and move the project toward successful implementation.
NEPOMUCENO’S GOOD GOVERNANCE DRIVE IN ACTION!
The initiative also reflects the broader direction of the Bureau of Customs under Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno, whose leadership emphasizes good governance, institutional coordination, and more responsive public service.
For the BOC, supporting legitimate development initiatives must go hand in hand with strict compliance with customs laws, transparent procedures, and effective border protection.
There should be no shortcuts around the law—but neither should unnecessary bureaucratic obstacles stand in the way of lawful projects that can benefit communities.
That is the balance responsible customs administration must deliver: firm enforcement, efficient trade facilitation, and meaningful public service.
THE BOTTOM LINE: DEVELOPMENT MUST DELIVER!
Saulong and the Port of Cagayan de Oro have taken part in an initiative that connects customs facilitation with an important environmental and public sanitation objective.
But the real test lies ahead: ensuring that the required machinery and components are imported lawfully, that the project advances as intended, and that its promised benefits ultimately reach the vendors and consumers of Cogon Public Market.
A wastewater treatment facility is more than an infrastructure project. It is an investment in sanitation, environmental responsibility, and the quality of public spaces used by ordinary Filipinos every day.
Under Collector Arnie Saulong, the BOC–Port of Cagayan de Oro is showing how customs can contribute to that mission—working with government and international partners while keeping lawful procedures at the center of development.
COLLECTOR ARNIE SAULONG: FACILITATING LEGITIMATE TRADE, STRENGTHENING PARTNERSHIPS, AND HELPING OPEN THE DOOR TO A CLEANER, MORE SUSTAINABLE CAGAYAN DE ORO!
