Determined to end corruption at the bureau, Customs chief Yogi Filemon Ruiz said he will pursue reforms, whatever it takes, not to please anyone but in support of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s vision to modernize and streamline processes.

Guesting in Daily Tribune's digital program Straight Talk, Ruiz said, "I am not a beginner at the Bureau of Customs whom they can fool."

This, as he highlighted current BoC initiatives that do away with face-to-face interactions between employees and clients to minimize corruption.

"What we are trying to do right now is we simplify things and stop face-to-face transactions in every collection district, and put up one-stop-shops at Customer Care Centers," he said.

The creation of Customer Care Centers in 17 Collection Districts serve as a one-stop-shop for customs-related transactions such as applications for accreditation, submission of goods declaration and other import documents, information, and payments, among others.

Brokers, importers, and anyone with no official business are off-limits at the BoC offices.

"They just stay in those one-stop shops at the Customer Care Centers to minimize (physical) interaction with Customs employees," he added.

"You do not need to be a scientist to fight corruption. What you need to do is just go to where the frontline is, look at the situation, and address its causes," said Ruiz, who had been with the BoC for five years as Director of the Enforcement and Security Service during the term of then-Commissioner Isidro Lapeña.

His law enforcement experience at the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency spanned more or less 12 years as director of PDEA regions 4A, 6, 7, 12, and Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

He said the BoC under his term picks up from the "very good" groundwork laid by his predecessors — Lapeña, and former Commissioner Rey Guerrero.

P5.5B to complete digitalization
The plan to fully implement the modernization of BoC is expected in three years but needs P5.5 billion to complete its digitization efforts to cut down bureaucracy within the agency.

"This is hopefully the final leg of digitalization that will do away with the entire process of having documents handed from one Customs officer to another," he added.

With a digitalized system, a tracking system will monitor how long documents stay in a specific office.

"If documents' processing is delayed and the reason is not sufficient, then it is a ground to file a case," he added.

The full implementation of digitalization, which is expected in 2025, involves the procurement of equipment, applications, and system processes.

Ruiz is optimistic about having a modernized BoC operation despite a temporary restraining order issued in 2015 against a winning bidder.

He lamented that the TRO stalled BoC's growth.

"I can see a resolution is on the horizon and the Bureau of Customs will be at par with other first-world customs administration," he added.

He said 91 percent of the 155 processes at the BoC have already been digitalized. Among them are the Liquidation and Billing System, Raw Materials Liquidation System, Electronic Customs Baggage and Currencies Declaration, National Customs Intelligence System, E2M-ETRACC Integration, and Payment Application Secure 6.

"The remainder of the 155 processed are being restricted by the TRO," he said, adding that the BoC is in close coordination with the Office of the Solicitor General though.

The President himself, he added, wanted the BoC to streamline its operations which will redound to faster importation, and more efficient BoC, generating more for the government.

On erring BoC employees

Ruiz said his biggest challenge is that some BoC employees are resistant to reforms.

"Right now they could not really accept that I am their commissioner but it is something that I don't care about," he said in Filipino, adding that he was appointed to do a job to the best of his ability.

He said 492 personnel were investigated resulting in the filing of nine administrative cases while three employees were dismissed, 35 were relieved, and 374 were reshuffled or transferred to various offices and ports far from their homes.

"It might be an instant solution but not a long-term one. What the BoC needs right now is full digitalization because all processes will then be subjected to an audit," he said.

Ruiz said he doesn't care about being labeled as the most hated in the bureau as long as he implements the directive of the President who will be leaving a legacy for the BoC.