On 14 March 2025, the Chinese Filipino Business Club, Inc. (CFBCI) attended the 1st Founding Anniversary Celebration of the Central Customs Industry Consultative and Advisory Council (CICAC), 3rd CICAC General Assembly, and 9th CICAC Meeting at FFCCCII Headquarters in Binondo, Manila. CFBCI is honored to be among this Council’s founding members, who aim to enhance trade facilitation in the country and strengthen public-private sector partnerships.
At 12:00 noon, members of CICAC from all over the country, comprising of 600 individuals, flocked to the FFCCCII Headquarters to share a sumptuous luncheon before the formal meeting commenced. The members from various institutions, organizations, companies, and professional backgrounds were pleased to meet their fellow members and conversed with each other over a delicious meal. Then, at 2:00 PM, everyone proceeded to the FFCCCII Plenary Auditorium for the 3rd CICAC General Assembly and 9th CICAC Meeting.
During the meeting, updates on the Technical Working Groups created for the following issues were discussed: Customs Amnesty Bill, documentary requirements that will reduce delay in the Cargo Clearance Process in the Philippines, solutions on problems in Cargo Logistics, and submission of Advance Cargo Manifest. The officials of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) led by Commissioner Bienvenido Y. Rubio provided substantial responses and inputs which made the concerned parties and the general membership of CICAC grateful.
Moreover, the presentation to the commissioner of the inscription of the commemorative marker celebrating the centuries of cooperation and collaboration between customs and industry took place during the meeting. Commissioner Rubio also presented anniversary gifts to the industry leaders; Executive Vice President Gerald Uy Chan received the token of appreciation on behalf of CFBCI which is a commemorative plaque containing the ‘QR Code’ directing to the song “Tinig ng Aduana: Himig ng Bagong Pilipinas” featuring the voices of Commissioner Rubio himself and the BOC Chorale.
In his guidance speech, Commissioner Rubio highlighted the key accomplishments of CICAC in its first year of establishment, namely: the launching of ATA Carnet System, consolidating the commitment of private stakeholders and related agencies, and implementation of new policies that will further enhance trade facilitation and customs administration in the country. He said, “thank you for helping us help you” and reminded the members of CICAC to be always “brave enough to knock on our door.” His message of gratitude garnered a resounding applause from the members of CICAC who were also pleased with the unwavering support and assistance of the BOC.
On behalf of CFBCI, Executive Vice President Gerald Uy Chan, Corporate Secretary Henry Go, Vice Chairman Stella Lim, Plenary Member Sheryl Tiu, Member Ryan Yeung, and Public Affairs Officer Mex Bausa attended the meeting which will be followed by the 10th CICAC Meeting in the month of May 2025.

菲華工商總會訊：海關產業諮詢與顧問委員會（Customs Industry Consultative and Advisory Council，以下簡稱CICAC）於二零二五年三月十四日（星期五）中午十二時，假馬尼拉市菲華商聯總會大樓會議廳，舉行成立一週年慶典暨第三次會員大會及第九次會議。海關局局長盧比奧（Commissioner Bienvenido Y. Rubio）親臨現場主持，來自全國各地六百餘名CICAC成員單位代表出席參加。本會執行副理事長曾國強，立案秘書吳恆利，常務理事施惠萍，理事佘玲玲、楊震廷以及西文秘書梅西卡等應邀出席，共同見證此次盛會。

菲華商聯總會理事長施東方博士在會議中致歡迎詞；海關局內部行政處長西蒙 (John M. Simon)介紹了正在進行的各項舉措的最新情況，包括旨在簡化貨物物流流程的海關條例擬議修正案。這些舉措是 CICAC 為提高效率和應對貿易與物流領域的挑戰而持續努力的一部分。

海關局局長盧比奧在致詞中表示，回顧過去的一年，CICAC主要績效包括：與菲律濱工商會合作推出的啟動暫准進口證（ATA Carnet）系統於去年七月成功啟動，簡化了貨物進入海關的臨時手續。與私人利益相關者和貿易監管政府機構（TRGAs）合作，努力降低貿易成本，提高貨物清關效率。此外，CICAC 還與全國各地的海關合作，更有效地處理和解決利益攸關方關注的具體問題。
最後，海關局局長盧比奧強調了行業合作的重要性，他說：「今天在座的各位代表了數百家公司、數千名個人和不同的行業。我們有責任確保我們在這裡做出的決定能讓基層感受到，只有在這個時候，我們才能真正說我們改變了我們服務物件的生活」。現場掌聲熱烈。

會議主要討論了海關特赦法案、簡化貨物清關過程中的文件要求、解決貨物物流問題的方案，以及提前提交貨物清單等議題。海關局負責人也向大家報告了為解決上述問題而設立的技術工作小組的最新進展。海關局局長盧比奧及其他在場官員在會中針對海關產業諮詢和顧問委員會成員的各項問題進行了詳細回應。

此外，向海關局長贈送了慶祝海關與工業界百年合作與協作的紀念碑碑文，同時局長亦向在場CICAC成員單位代表贈送了週年紀念牌；本會由執行副理事長曾國強代表接受，紀念牌上印有二維碼，掃描後可連結到歌曲《Tinig ng Aduana: Himig ng Bagong Pilipinas》，這首歌是由海關局局長盧比奧與海關合唱團共同演唱。

活動在溫馨的氛圍中圓滿落幕。第十次海關產業諮詢與顧問委員會會議將於五月份舉行。CICAC自去年二月成立以來，中央區域成員單位現已增加到五十九個，地方區域成員單位目前已有一百廿二個。

圖片說明：
上左圖：（左起）曾國強，佘玲玲，海關局局長盧比奧，施惠萍，楊震廷在會場合影。
上中圖：海關局長盧比奧頒贈本會的週年紀念牌。