BOC to pay P800T monthly for new Port of Cebu office

BOC to pay P800T monthly for new Port of Cebu office

MALACAÑANG has approved the request of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) to allocate more than P800,000 a month, or P9.6 million a year, to rent half of the second floor of the Quimonda IT building, to be the new home of the Port of Cebu office.

The building is located in the port area near SM City Cebu on Baclig St.

Cebu Customs District Collector Edward dela Cuesta said the estimated cost to transfer the entire Port of Cebu office, which includes division of offices, power and water lines, computer and IT lines, furniture and fixtures, among others, is P23 million.

President Benigno Aquino III recently turned down again the request of Commissioner Rozzano Rufino “Ruffy” Biazon to return the BOC-owned building in Aduana, Cebu City, which was converted into the Malacañang sa Sugbo in 2005 by then president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

Late last year, the Cebu Port Authority (CPA) ordered the BOC Port of Cebu to vacate its office in Pier 5 so the CPA can use it as a passenger terminal for vessels plying the Cebu-Manila-Cebu route.

Quoting Atty. Juan Lorenzo Tañada, deputy commissioner for administration, dela Cuesta said the Department of Budget and Management is processing the P9.6-million allocation.

Dela Cuesta said that once the money is released, they will move in to the Quimonda IT building.

BOC authorities first asked the President to return the customs building in Aduana in 2010.

District Collector Ronnie Silvestre, who served the Port of Cebu until last Feb. 10, said the BOC deserves a permanent office being the second largest government revenue collection agency.