On October 19, 2023, the Chinese Filipino Business Club, Inc. (CFBCI) members, particularly President Stephen Sia, Vice President Paul Yeung, Plenary Member Ramon Uy, Plenary Member Ramon Cheng, Plenary Member Jack Wong, and Public Affairs Officer Mexica Bausa attended a courtesy meeting with Bureau of Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Y. Rubio at the BoC Head Office in Port Area, Manila.

Also present in the meeting are other officials of BoC: Deputy Commissioner Atty. Vener S. Baquiran, Deputy Commissioner Michael C. Fermin, Director – POS Atty. Clarence S. Dizon, and Chief of Staff Atty. Marlon M. Agaceta.

The meeting begin with a short but very detailed presentation facilitated by the BoC which has tackled the overview of their Five Point Priority Program and the Philippine Trade Facilitation Committee (PTFC) Roadmap.

With full enthusiasm, the Bureau has discussed the six key reform areas of this roadmap: Stakeholder Management, Inter-Agency Coordination, Technology Infrastructure, Legal and Regulatory Framework, Emergency Response Measures, and Support to Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises.

CFBCI truly appreciated the efforts of the Bureau in addressing their questions and its recognition of the vital role of the business community in achieving the goals of the Boc: to apprehend law violators and foster transparency, inclusive, digital, efficient, and secure Customs agency.

President Sia expressed his immense gratitude to the Commissioner for accepting CFBCI’s request for a courtesy call. “Please be assured that the Chinese Filipino Business Club, Inc. will always stand in support of BoC’s initiatives for the benefit of the people,” President Sia said.

Before parting ways, the two parties have exchanged beautiful tokens. CFBCI gifted the Commissioner a shiny plaque of collaboration and its limited edition coffee table book. In return, the Commissioner gave us also a plaque and a medallion.

菲華工商總會訊：本會理事長謝國萬，副理事長楊良田，理事莊南文、顏漢龍、王輝益，英文外交職員Mexica Bausa 於10月19日（星期四）上午，前往海關總局位於港區總部，禮訪海關總局局長Bienvenido Y. Rubio，受到局長熱情歡迎，並在會議室進行了座談。陪同局長出席接待及座談的還有副局長Vener S. Baquiran律師，副局長Michael C. Fermin，主任Clarence S. Dizon律師，局長辦公室主任Marlon M. Agaceta律師。
座談會由海關總局主持，首先分享短視頻詳細介紹了該局的運行方針，內容涉及其五點優先計劃和菲律濱貿易便利化委員會（PTFC）路線圖的概述。該路線圖的六個關鍵改革領域為：利益相關者管理、機構間協調、技術基礎設施、法律和監管框架、應急措施以及對微型、小型和中型企業的支援等。

理事長謝國萬在致詞時對Rubio局長在百忙之中撥空接受本會的禮訪表示衷心感謝。並表示菲華工商總會將始終支持海關總局造福人民的舉措。

會談中雙方互動良多，親切交流，本會作為菲華商業團體，就前段時期米倉被封事件表示關心；Rubio局長對其做出了詳細解釋，這是該局為打擊操縱農業產品價格、走私大米及囤積貨物，藉以抬高米價所必需做的突擊檢查和措施。在檢查行動之前，該局進行了廣泛的調查、監視和試購，確認其有違法行為才付諸行動。那些被封的米倉，該局將給予貨主十五天的期限，讓他們提供其供應商或進口商支付正確關稅和稅款的證明等必要文件，如查證無違法，即會開封；反之則將依法處罰。為使大米貿易商遵守法律，保護本國農民的利益，對違法者絕不姑息。

本會對於海關局在解決有關問題，如：逮捕違法者並促進透明度、包容性、數位化、高效和安全的海關機構等方面所做出的努力深感認可。會後雙方交換紀念品並合影留念。

圖片說明：
上圖：座談現場。
中圖：向海關總局局長贈送本會徽章紀念品及二十年特刊（左起）王輝益，Mexica Bausa，莊南文，顏漢龍，楊良田，謝國萬，局長 Bienvenido Y. Rubio，副局長Vener S. Baquiran律師，副局長Michael C. Fermin，主任Clarence S. Dizon律師，局長辦公室主任Marlon M. Agaceta律師。
下圖：海關總局Bienvenido Y. Rubio局長贈送紀念牌匾給本會。