Ruffy Biazon’s mgmt style

Customs Commissioner Rozzano Rufino “Ruffy” Bunoan Biazon has a herculean job addressing the problems besetting the Bureau of Customs (BOC).  Despite  the challenges, one can observe his focus, determination, and pragmatism in trying to solve problems one at a time.

For instance, when Yolanda wrought havoc to Eastern Visayas, particularly Tacloban, Cebu, Eastern Samar and outlying areas, he immediately created a “one-stop-shop” to ensure the immediate and orderly shipment at designated drop points of relief goods coming from foreign and local donors with the assistance and coordination of BOC district collectors in the ports of Tacloban, Cebu,  and Ninoy Aquino International Airport. 

Biazon also informed Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, chairman of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), and DSWD Secretary “Dinky” Soliman, of the availability of 90x2 containers of Mango Brand Premium Rice, which had been forfeited in favor of the government and stored at the Port of Subic that could be donated to the victims of the calamity.

To correct the misconception that foreign donations of relief goods are being taxed, Biazon said that only a letter of intent to donate goods, a Bill of Lading or airway bill, and a packing list and/or commercial invoice are needed. The order, however, makes clear that all donations shall be given to the account of the DSWD and or any DSWD registered relief organization.

Since Nov. 11, 2013, the BOC has expedited the release of over 500,000 kilos relief goods and aid equipment through its One-Stop Shops (OSS), with customs processing and clearance of these much-needed items for victims of Typhoon Yolanda completed way below the 24-hour window mandated under Customs Memorandum Order 8-2013. These shipments include over 23,000 kilos of relief supplies from the German government; over ten tons (over 9,000 kilos) of humanitarian goods from the government of France; over 80,000 kilos of high-energy biscuits and 81,000 kilos of aid equipment from the United Nations World Food Program; and 80,000 kilos of relief goods from the Embassy of Qatar.

One will recall that the President complained in his last SONA of things not going well at the BOC. An understandably hurt Biazon immediately resigned, there was no sense staying on the job if he did not have the confidence of the Big Boss. But the President did not accept his resignation. So Ruffy’s still at the herculean task of cleansing the BOC stables.

I hasten to add that right at the beginning of his appointment in 2011,  Biazon, then 42, told our Bulong Pulungan group  that the moment one sat at the BOC desk, people wanted him out. Those who want him out are still the targets of a reform program in the perceived most graft-ridden agency.

After two years on the job, he ordered the reassignment of 27 port collectors to the Department of Finance as part of a sweeping revamp of his bureau. Fifteen of them promptly went to court to question the order. The court issued a TRO against the reassignment order  but  later upheld Biazon’s move. The lesson from this, Biazon said, is that “you have to have the law on your side if you really want to make a difference.”

One of the measures taken is changing the senior and middle management of the BOC. In spite of, or possibly due to the changes in the senior and middle personnel, the agency managed to generate P27.86-billion in revenues in October 2013, up 3.4% versus the same month last year. While total collections for October fell 8.7% short of the P30.5-Billion target for the month, revenues grew for the fourth month in a row.

The axe began to fall on smugglers. When he was in Cebu City, as part of his inspection trip at the typhoon -devastated area of Tacloban City, Biazon monitored the filing of appropriate charges at the Department of Justice against three traders who attempted to illegally bring into the country Php 16.5 million worth of agricultural products.

Also seized were PhP16.3 million worth of smuggled toxic chemicals, and  one 40-footer container van of illegally imported fake Marlboro cigarettes worth PhP18-million, which arrived at the Manila International Container Port (MICP) from China in October. 

Also, alert customs officials arrested  and BOC subsequently filed charges against a South African drug mule caught carrying 8.5 kilos of cocaine worth PhP-40 million.  

The arrest of the South African drug mule, said Biazon, “should send a strong warning to international drug rings that the Philippines is no place for their illegal and hazardous drugs. We shall prosecute and seek for the maximum penalties allowed by law to all those caught attempting to smuggle drugs into the country, if only to spare the lives of young Filipinos.”  

Another move made was the meeting between customs officials and stakeholders to discuss the planned establishment of a Customs Trade Facilitation Office (CTFO). “We would like to continue to open-engagement working relationship between customs officials and stakeholders,” Biazon said. “With the enhanced partnership between the BOC and stakeholders, we should not only be able to improve our services, but more importantly, we should be able to apply only the best practices in the industry.”

The meeting, which was attended by the officers of the Port Users Confederation (PUC), Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), American Chamber of Commerce (ACC), Korean Chamber of Commerce (KC) and the Asian development Bank (ADB), was the first of three meetings to discuss the possible provisions of a Custom Memorandum Order creating the Trade Facilitation Office. This  office, designed to assist the country’s importers and exporters with their customs needs, will be manned by customs officials and stakeholders.

Customs Deputy Commissioner for Assessment Operations and Coordinating Group (AOCG) Agaton Uvero said that considering the nature of the TFO, a satellite trade facilitation office should be opened in Makati, where many exporters and importers are based.

Another reform-minded move is catching up with most of the members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in modernizing the country’s antiquated Customs and Tariff Code.

The ASEAN is shooting for an integrated economy by 2015, which calls for unified customs schemes and practices by its member nations. Biazon said, “The Philippines must adjust to the changing times by adopting the ASEAN vision.”

He continued, “Today, customs administration is no longer just a domestic issue, but an international economic concern where liberalized movement of goods among nations is among its priorities.  We must get on board the ongoing changes in the global market and customs trends.”

Happily, the House Committee on Ways and Means headed by Marikina City Rep. Miro Quimbo is prioritizing the passage of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA0) to amend the 30-year old customs code. Commissioner Biazon’s father, Muntinlupa Rep. Rodolfo Biazon, filed the bill last July.

If passed into law, the CMTA would put the Philippines in line with international standards in customs operations, making import trade transactions faster, efficient, transparent and predictable, and minimizing corruption and fraud and losses in government revenues, Commissioner Biazon said.  

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