On 30 April 2024, the Chinese Filipino Business Club, Inc. (CFBCI) led by President Samuel Lee Uy attended the 3rd Customs Industry Consultative and Advisory Council (CICAC) Meeting at the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) Headquarters in Commerce and Industry Building, Taguig City.
Present with CFBCI President Uy are: Vice Chairman Richard Yao, Vice Chairman Mylene Hao Co, Vice Chairman Stella Lim, Plenary Member Sheryl Tiu, and Mr. Malcolm Anderson Co (Vice Chairman Co’s son). Various topics were discussed during the meeting including the implementation of the ATA Carnet Program which is 50 years in the making.
The meeting began with the welcome remarks of PCCI President, Consul Enunina Mangio, through which she expressed great commendation towards CICAC. She stated the significance of this council in strengthening public-private relationships and successfully advancing reform agendas of the Bureau of Customs (BoC). Her remarks marked the beginning of a fruitful discussion between the BoC and its industry partners.
Among the members who raised a concern is CFBCI Vice Chairman Yao, who requested the BoC to kindly continue its publication of import information on the BoC official website. Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Y. Rubio assured Mr. Yao that once the BoC is done with the re-assessment of its website, publishing of import-related information will be continued. As an importer himself, Mr. Yao deeply appreciated Commissioner Rubio’s reassurance.
Moreover, a video on CICAC was shown displaying Finance Secretary Ralph Recto’s acclamation for CICAC, as well as the congratulatory messages of the leaders of various groups including CFBCI President Uy. Commissioner Rubio then shared the BoC’s aspiration to enhance international CICAC exposure and encourage other countries to form their own councils to achieve positive outcomes.
In his closing remarks, Commissioner Rubio said that “it takes some time to put these changes into place.” Nevertheless, through the help of CICAC, the BoC is optimistic to pursue innovations in the Bureau. He then expressed his immense gratitude to the members of the council for their genuine willingness to collaborate with BoC in its reform agendas. “Thank you for helping us help you,” the Commissioner said.
On that day, the council prepared a surprise birthday celebration for Commissioner Rubio who is turning 50. His wish is to encourage everyone to work together towards a better Philippines who can stand at par with developed countries. All CICAC members, including CFBCI, then extended their full support to the BoC in attaining this goal. The meeting was adjourned around 3:00PM and the attendees took a commemorative photo at the facade of the Commerce and Industry Building.
菲華工商總會訊：本會理事長黃書瑋偕同商務委員會副主任姚慶祕、文教委員會副主任侯逸蘭、公共資訊委員會副主任施惠萍、商務委員會理事佘玲玲、同仁許偉城及英文秘書梅西卡等人，於四月卅日（星期二）中午，出席假達義市菲律濱工商總會（PCCI）總部召開的第三次海關產業諮詢和顧問委員會（簡稱CICAC）會議，共有一百多人參加。席間就實施暫准進口證計畫（ATA Carnet Program）及多項利國利民議題交換意見。
會議在菲律濱工商總會會長Enunina Mangio 領事致歡迎詞後正式開始；她在致詞時，高度讚賞海關產業諮詢和顧問委員會的成立，並表示，委員會對加強公私夥伴關係及推動海關局創新改革扮演著非常重要的角色。
期間，本會副主任姚慶祕提出建議，希望海關局能夠繼續在其官方網站上公佈進口資訊。海關局局長Bienvenido Y. Rubio回應，該局目前還在為其網站做重新評估工作，一旦完成，將會繼續公佈與進口有關的相關資訊。隨後，播放了一段財政部長Ralph Recto、本會理事長黃書瑋及其它有關團體領導人，對海關產業諮詢和顧問委員會成立的祝賀影片。
Bienvenido Y. Rubio局長也介紹了委員會的願景，提高海關產業諮詢和顧問委員會在國際上的知名度，並鼓勵其他國家成立自己的委員會，以取得豐碩成果。最後局長總結：要將改革落實到位，還需要一段時間，但他深信在海關產業諮詢和顧問委員會的每位成員的全力協助下，對海關局的前景持樂觀態度。他也由衷感謝委員會成員真誠地配合，共同為海關局改革而努力。
當天委員會成員為Bienvenido Y. Rubio局長提前慶祝五十歲生日；活動最後，所有與會人士在菲律濱工商總會總部大樓前合影，會議於下午三時圓滿結束。
圖片說明：
上圖：（左起）海關產業諮詢和顧問委員會秘書處處長John Simon，施惠萍，黃書瑋，海關局長Bienvenido Y. Rubio，佘玲玲，侯逸蘭，許偉城及姚慶祕。
下圖：出席海關產業諮詢和顧問委員會第三次會議的所有與會人士在菲律濱工商總會總部大樓前合影留念。
