On 19 March 2026, the Chinese Filipino Business Club, Inc. (CFBCI) hosted the 5th General Assembly and the 11th Meeting of the Customs Industry Consultative and Advisory Council (CICAC), graced by the presence of Hon. Ariel F. Nepomuceno, Commissioner of the Bureau of Customs. The event was successfully held at the Grand Ballroom of Diamond Hotel.
The Assembly convened approximately 500 participants from the Bureau of Customs, industry associations, foreign chambers, and the broader private sector. As host for the second time, CFBCI reaffirmed its strong commitment to advancing trade facilitation and strengthening public–private collaboration in the country.
Prior to the General Assembly, CFBCI officers, led by President Gerald Uy Chan, held a substantive executive session with Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno at the Ruby Function Room. The discussion focused on key issues affecting trade and customs processes. Among these was the importance of updating Value Reference Information (VRI) on imported goods to enhance transparency and consistency in customs valuation. The Commissioner also acknowledged concerns regarding current inspection procedures, particularly cases that result in significant processing delays, and committed to reviewing these processes. In addition, considerations on achieving more equitable tax treatment across animal feed sectors were raised and duly noted.
As the executive session concluded, President Chan conveyed CFBCI’s willingness to support the Bureau of Customs in utilizing Mandarin to further improve the dissemination of customs information and advisories to the Chinese-Filipino community. This offer was warmly received by the Commissioner, who expressed openness to exploring further avenues of collaboration with the organization.
Following the executive session, participants proceeded to the Grand Ballroom for the formal opening of the General Assembly. In his opening address, Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno expressed his deep appreciation to CFBCI for its consistent support of both the Bureau and CICAC since its establishment three years ago. He noted the strong rapport built with the organization’s leadership, rooted in a shared commitment to driving positive change. He likewise encouraged all CICAC members to continue working closely with the Bureau of Customs in advancing policy reforms and transforming the agency into a modern, transparent, and efficient customs administration.
As host organization, President Gerald Uy Chan delivered the welcome remarks, underscoring the value of CICAC as a platform that enables the private sector to directly convey insights and concerns to the Bureau. He emphasized that through this mechanism, stakeholders are able to engage the appropriate authorities more efficiently — “diretso na at wala nang paligoy-ligoy.”
He further recalled that during CFBCI’s first hosting of the Assembly in July 2024, Honorary President Samuel Lee Uy remarked, “Ibang-iba na ang Bureau of Customs ngayon, hindi na tinatakbuhan, bagkus ay nilalapitan.” Today, this observation continues to hold true, as the Bureau of Customs has significantly improved its public engagement and institutional image through initiatives such as CICAC.
Throughout the morning session, the CICAC meeting addressed several key issues, including proposed solutions to port congestion and the introduction of a new Customs Processing System under a Public-Private Partnership (AVP). The discussion also covered challenges arising from inter-agency processes that contribute to delays in cargo clearance and their impact on rising costs. Overall, the session proved to be a productive platform for dialogue, enabling stakeholders to exchange insights and explore actionable measures to enhance efficiency and collaboration between the public and private sectors.
Following the meeting, participants were treated to lunch at the Corniche buffet restaurant within Diamond Hotel.
Representing CFBCI, President Gerald Uy Chan was joined by Honorary President Stephen Tan Sia, Honorary President Samuel Lee Uy, Executive Vice President Paul Yeung, Vice President Willy Chuakimtong, Vice President Vicente Co, Vice President William Rogando, Honorary Vice President Johnny Lee, Director Gilbert Kua Yan Yee, along with several committee chairpersons and plenary members.
菲華工商總會訊：由本會主辦海關企業諮詢與顧問委員會（以下簡稱CICAC）第五次會員大會暨第十一次會議，於二零二六年三月十九日（星期四）上午，假馬尼拉市鑽石酒店隆重舉行。本次活動由菲律濱海關局局長阿里爾·尼布穆西諾（Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno）親自主持，吸引約五百位來自菲海關局高層、外國商會、國內商會代表及企業界人士共襄盛舉，場面盛大而熱烈。
作為第二次擔任主辦單位，本會再次展現其在推動貿易便利化及深化公私部門協作方面的積極作為，並持續發揮橋樑角色，促進政策對話與制度優化，彰顯其在連結政府與產業間的重要功能。
上午十時，在會議正式開始前，本會理事長曾國強，名譽理事長黃書瑋、謝國萬，名譽副理事長李少平，執行副理事長楊良田，副理事長蔡金東、許長泰，董事柯仁義，常務理事顏漢龍、王輝益、呂偉利、黃愛儀、姚寶珍、許青山等人，與尼布穆西諾局長及海關局內部行政處長約翰．西蒙（Director John Simon），海關局幕僚長Carlos Bathann司長、Jek Casipit司長，副幕僚長 Chris Noel Bendijo律師、Randy Vizconde律師等舉行閉門會議，雙方就多項攸關貿易運作與通關效率的重要議題進行深入交流。焦點集中於「參考價值資訊」資料庫的更新機制，該系統對於確保海關估價的一致性、減少人為武斷評定至關重要。
尼布穆西諾局長回應時，坦承業界對於導致通關嚴重延誤的查驗程序確有不滿，並承諾將正式檢討相關程序，以降低物流成本。會議亦觸及產業稅負差異問題，特別是針對各類動物飼料爭取更公平的稅率，以穩定農業部門的投入成本。
為進一步強化溝通，理事長曾國強於會中提出，本會願協助將海關相關行政通告翻譯為中文，以提升華裔菲商界的法規遵從度與資訊普及率。尼布穆西諾局長對此提議樂見其成，認為此舉將有助於促進資訊的有效傳遞。
隨後，大會於宴會廳正式展開。尼布穆西諾局長於致詞中，對本會過去三年持續支持海關局及CICAC運作表達誠摯感謝，並高度肯定雙方所建立之良好夥伴關係。他同時呼籲所有CICAC成員維持緊密合作關係，共同推動政策改革，並強調海關局的終極目標是成為一個完全透明且高效的現代化機構。
本會理事長曾國強於致詞時指出，CICAC已成為公私部門對話的重要平台，使業界能即時反映意見與需求，有效提升溝通效率，實現「直接對話、務實解決」的目標。理事長曾國強特別引用本會名譽理事長黃書瑋在二零二四年七月首次主辦CICAC會議時所言：「海關局已煥然一新，不再令人卻步，而成為企業主動接觸的合作夥伴。」此一觀察於今日更顯具體，充分體現海關局在公共服務形象及制度改革方面的顯著進展。
在會議討論環節中，與會代表亦就多項關鍵議題深入交換意見，包括紓解港口擁堵之可行方案、透過公私協力（PPP）推動新一代海關處理系統（AVP），以及跨部門作業流程對貨物通關效率與成本之影響等。整體討論成果豐碩，為進一步強化政府與產業間之協作機制奠定堅實基礎。
活動最後，雙方互贈紀念品，並與所有與會人士合影留念。會後，全體與會嘉賓於鑽石酒店Corniche自助餐廳共進午餐，持續交流互動，氣氛融洽，為本次盛會畫下圓滿句點。
當日出席會議之本會領事同仁尚有：副理事長杜祖蔭，理事佘玲玲、陳金華、楊信心和曾丁玉等，共同見證此次重要交流成果。
圖片說明：
上圖：海關企業諮詢與顧問委員會第五次會員大會主賓台。
中圖一：閉門會議後合影留念。（坐者左起）蔡金東，楊良田，謝國萬，黃書瑋，曾國強，尼布穆西諾局長，Carlos Bathann司長，Jek Casipit司長。（後立者左起）許長泰，呂偉利，顏漢龍，黃愛儀，姚寶珍，柯仁義，許清山，西蒙處長，王輝益，李少平，Chris Noel Bendijo律師，Randy Vizconde律師。
中圖二：雙方互贈紀念品。（左起）楊良田，曾國強，尼布穆西諾局長，黃書瑋，蔡金東。
中圖三：本會出席會議的領導同仁在鑽石酒店大堂合影留念。（前排左起）呂偉利，陳金華，謝國萬，曾國強，黃書瑋，楊良田，蔡金東，許長泰，李少平，柯仁義。（後立者左起）姚寶珍，許青山，王輝益，顏漢龍，黃愛儀，曾丁玉。
下圖：出席海關企業諮詢與顧問委員會第五次會員大會暨第十一次會議的全體賓客在會場合影留念。
