As it marks 48 years of public service this December, the Bureau of Customs – Manila International Container Port (BOC-MICP) celebrated its milestone with a commemorative program graced by Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno as Guest of Honor.
MICP, also known as Collection District II-B, has long stood as a major contributor in fulfilling the BOC’s role as a frontline agency for trade facilitation and revenue generation, playing a crucial part in sustaining the country’s economic growth.
A leadership turnover served as the event’s highlight, with District Collector Rizalino Jose Torralba formally turning over responsibilities to Atty. Felipe Geoffrey De Vera IV as the new head of MICP.
This transition signifies renewed leadership, continuity of reforms, and a strengthened resolve to deliver efficient, transparent, and people-oriented customs service.
“The Port of Manila is one of the Bureau’s most critical ports.”
Reflecting on outgoing District Collector Rizalino Jose Torralba’s service, Nepomuceno expressed gratitude for his contributions to MICP and emphasized that he has been entrusted to lead the Port of Manila, one of the Bureau’s most critical ports.
He underscored the Bureau’s practice of deploying its best leaders to areas of strategic importance, stating, “Essentially, we are trained in the military academy that when there is a total war, you have to put your best people in the most crucial battlefields.”
“We are trained in the military academy that when there is a total war, you have to put your best people in the most crucial battlefields.”
Nepomuceno likewise acknowledged the capability and readiness of the incoming District Collector, noting that De Vera is among the exceptional leaders prepared by the BOC to meet the challenges of the new term ahead.
He also reiterated his commitment to meeting collection targets, stating, “We have to deliver the collection performance as I’ve committed to the President,” adding that placing the Bureau’s best people in crucial operational fronts remains central to achieving this goal.
