The Bureau of Customs wasn’t pulling any punches at the 4th Collectors’ Conference held on November 29, 2025. Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno, known for his no-nonsense, zero-excuses leadership, gathered his frontliners to lay down the law, assess what’s working, and tighten the screws where needed.
This wasn’t a polite coffee session. It was a results-driven huddle—sharp, blunt, and heavy on accountability.
Nepomuceno, true to form, revisited the Bureau’s priority directives like a commander checking battle lines. Collection performance, assessment evaluation reports, enhanced monitoring tools, auction updates, donation protocols, condemnation procedures—nothing escaped scrutiny. If it involved public money or public trust, it was on the table.
And the message was loud and unmistakable: deliver, or be left behind.
⭐ STAR COLLECTORS STEP INTO THE SPOTLIGHT
While the conference addressed the Bureau’s toughest challenges, several collectors emerged as standouts—proof that excellence isn’t accidental, but rather consistent.
Among those who earned a well-deserved spotlight:
•Atty. Yasmin “Yas” Mapa – holding the line with sharp legal grounding and decisive leadership.
•Collector Mimel – driving performance with quiet but forceful efficiency.
•Collector Balagtas – a steady pillar known for discipline and order.
•Collector Alexandra Lumontad – bringing firm, modern administrative control to her district.
•Collector Jairus Reyes – steering Clark with precision and strong compliance initiatives.
•Collector Rizalino Torralba – proving that consistent revenue performance is no accident but a product of relentless focus.
Their districts didn’t just meet expectations—they hit the October revenue targets head-on, joining the ranks of ports whose performance signals a Bureau that’s finally running like a disciplined machine.
Ports of Aparri, Clark, Legazpi, San Fernando, Cebu, Batangas, and Limay were all recognized for delivering the kind of numbers that make reform real, not theoretical.
NEPOMUCENO’S REMINDER: “GOOD IS NOT ENOUGH”
Commissioner Nepomuceno’s message sliced cleanly through the entire room:
Consistency. Discipline. Professionalism.
He stressed that top performance must be the norm—not a lucky streak. With smuggling syndicates evolving and public expectations rising, the Bureau can’t afford complacency. Under his watch, the mantra is clear: High standards are not optional.
And the collectors knew it.
This wasn’t a celebration—it was a checkpoint. A reminder that reforms don’t survive on slogans, but on steady, daily, measurable performance across all ports.
A BUREAU MOVING WITH PURPOSE
If the 4th Collectors’ Conference proved anything, it’s that the Bureau of Customs under Nepomuceno is running tighter, cleaner, and faster. The momentum is real—and the collectors leading the charge know the Commissioner expects nothing less than full commitment to the Bureau’s mandate.
Strong leadership. Strong performance. Strong accountability.
That’s the new Customs playbook.
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