Bernie Anabo Jr.
In the high-stakes battlefield of Philippine Customs, where every container tells a story, every shipment demands scrutiny, and every peso collected matters to the nation, one woman is making her presence felt—not by throwing around her title, but by bringing experience, discipline, and a clear vision to the table!
Meet Collector Atty. Zsae Carrie C. De Guzman, the woman who climbed the ranks of the Bureau of Customs from the technical frontlines of the X-Ray Inspection Project to the demanding seat of District Collector at the Port of Cebu!
This is no ordinary career move. This is a test of leadership, integrity, and the ability to turn government service into measurable results!
Having formally assumed office on July 7, 2026, De Guzman inherited one of the country’s vital gateways for international trade. The challenge is enormous. The expectations are high. And the message is unmistakable: Cebu’s customs operations must deliver!
FROM THE X-RAY SCANNERS TO THE COMMAND CHAIR!
Before she took the helm in Cebu, De Guzman served as IPR Division Chief of the Bureau of Customs and X-Ray Inspection Project Head—a role that placed her in the critical world of non-intrusive inspection, shipment screening, and customs risk management.
That experience matters!
In modern customs enforcement, the battle against smuggling does not begin when contraband is already on the streets. It begins at the border, where suspicious shipments must be identified, risks assessed, and enforcement personnel equipped with the information needed to act.
X-ray technology is one of the essential tools in that fight. It helps customs authorities examine cargo without immediately opening every container, allowing suspicious shipments to be flagged for closer inspection.
For an official who has worked in this specialized environment, the transition to district collector brings a broader responsibility: balancing enforcement with the legitimate movement of goods, protecting government revenue while ensuring that compliant businesses are not unnecessarily burdened.
From reading cargo images to leading an entire customs port, the responsibility has grown—but so has the opportunity to make a difference!
EXPERIENCE IS HER AMMUNITION!
De Guzman’s professional journey did not stop at the X-ray inspection division. She also served as District Collector of the Port of Zamboanga and acting deputy collector for Operations at the Port of Clark.
Those assignments exposed her to different operational environments, each with its own demands, risks, and challenges.
Now, in Cebu, she must bring that accumulated experience to one of the country’s important commercial gateways.
The question is not simply whether a collector can occupy the office. The real question is whether that collector can command respect, strengthen discipline, improve efficiency, and deliver results without compromising the integrity of customs administration.
Titles may open the door, but performance determines whether a leader deserves the public’s confidence!
And that is where De Guzman’s Cebu assignment will ultimately be judged.
₱4.062 BILLION! CEBU SENDS A STRONG REVENUE SIGNAL!
Numbers speak—and Cebu’s August 2026 collection deserves attention!
Under De Guzman’s leadership, the Port of Cebu reportedly collected ₱4.062 billion in August 2026, surpassing its monthly revenue target by approximately ₱86.86 million.
That is more than a headline-grabbing figure. It is a performance indicator that deserves closer examination, particularly in a bureau where revenue collection must go hand in hand with trade facilitation and effective border enforcement.
Every peso collected contributes to the government’s fiscal resources. Every properly processed shipment helps legitimate commerce move. Every credible enforcement action strengthens the effort to protect the country against unlawful importation.
But let us be clear: one strong month does not automatically establish a long-term record of success. The real challenge is to sustain the momentum, maintain transparent procedures, and ensure that revenue gains are not achieved at the expense of efficient service to legitimate traders.
The public should demand both results and accountability—and responsible leadership should welcome that scrutiny!
HER BIG PROMISE: THE FRIENDLIEST PORT IN THE COUNTRY!
De Guzman has expressed a vision of making the Port of Cebu the friendliest port in the Philippines, anchored on respect, trust, integrity, and operational excellence.
That is an ambitious promise—and rightly so!
A friendly port is not a customs office where rules are ignored or enforcement is weakened. It is a port where legitimate importers receive clear guidance, transactions are handled professionally, unnecessary delays are reduced, and the same rules are applied fairly to everyone.
Friendliness must never mean favoritism. Efficiency must never mean cutting corners. And modernization must never become an excuse for sacrificing accountability.
For businesses, predictable procedures mean fewer costly delays. For government, stronger compliance means better revenue protection. For the public, integrity means confidence that customs officials are serving the nation rather than private interests.
Her engagement with business groups, including the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, is therefore an important part of the equation. Meaningful dialogue between customs officials and the business community can help identify bottlenecks, improve cargo processing, and make trade more efficient.
But promises must become practice. Consultation must produce solutions. And a vision must be backed by results that traders and the public can actually experience.
THE REAL BATTLE IS JUST BEGINNING!
Make no mistake: the Port of Cebu is not a ceremonial assignment. It is a demanding post where revenue targets, enforcement responsibilities, cargo congestion, trade facilitation, and public expectations converge.
De Guzman must prove that her technical background in X-ray inspection can complement the broader demands of customs leadership. She must demonstrate that operational experience can translate into stronger controls, better service, and sustained performance.
Her challenge is to build a port where honest traders are respected, suspicious shipments receive proper scrutiny, government revenue is protected, and every transaction is governed by established rules.
That is the kind of leadership the country needs—not empty slogans, not grandstanding, and certainly not promises that disappear after the cameras are gone.
The true measure of a customs collector is what happens on the ground when the headlines fade!
THE VERDICT: WATCH THIS WOMAN!
From the X-Ray Inspection Project to the Port of Zamboanga, from operational responsibilities at Clark to the top customs post in Cebu, Atty. Zsae Carrie C. De Guzman’s career has taken her through different fronts of customs administration.
Now she faces a bigger stage—and a bigger responsibility.
Her reported August revenue performance gives her administration an encouraging starting point. Her promise of a friendlier port sets a clear direction. Her experience in inspection and operations provides a foundation on which to build.
But the real test lies ahead: sustained revenue performance, credible enforcement, transparent procedures, faster legitimate trade, and service that treats every stakeholder fairly.
Cebu does not need a collector who merely occupies the chair. It needs a leader who makes the port work!
And if De Guzman can turn her vision into lasting improvements, she will have something far more powerful than a title or a flattering headline: a record of public service that speaks for itself.
The spotlight is now on Collector Atty. Zsae Carrie C. De Guzman.
The challenge is clear. The expectations are high. And the people are watching!
DELIVER THE RESULTS, COLLECTOR—AND LET PERFORMANCE DO THE TALKING!
