The Bureau of Customs officially launched Top Importers Office (TIO), its stakeholder engagement initiative under Customs Memorandum Order (CMO) No. 06-2026, the Bureau of Customs (BOC), to drive trade efficiency.
Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno said the TIO, headed by Director George JT D. Aliño, II, is a strategic link to foster seamless collaboration between key trade partners and the Bureau’s operational units.
Under CMO No. 06-2026, the office acts as the main focal point for top importers and industry leaders. Its establishment shifts customs governance to sustained consultation, upgrading frontline services, and promoting a more efficient and reliable trading environment.
For the month of July, a series of consultation meetings were conducted with top importers across various industries, where the Bureau formally introduced the TIO as their central coordinating hub and primary point of contact. Among the stakeholders engaged were leading energy and petroleum firms, including Insular Oil Corporation, Shell Pilipinas Corporation, Petron Corporation, Chevron Philippines Inc., Seaoil, Unioil, and Jetti Petroleum.
The TIO was also introduced to key players in aviation, automotive, technology, food, healthcare, and manufacturing, including Philippine Airlines, Mitsubishi, Suzuki Philippines, HP PPS Philippines, Coca-Cola Europacific Aboitiz, Mondelez, Monde Nissin, Century Pacific Food, Golden Arches Development Corp., Mondo Cucina, Wills International, IE Medica, Medethix, Lifeline Diagnostics Supplies, Concepcion Durables, Concepcion-Carrier, and SCG Marketing.
During these sessions, company representatives raised specific operational concerns involving import clearances, processing delays, and inter-office coordination. As part of the initial programs launched by the TIO, structured assistance and tracking mechanisms were established to ensure that concerns are systematically routed to concerned BOC offices for timely evaluation and action, while setting mutual expectations for strict legal compliance and complete documentation.
“Ang Top Importers Office ang magiging direktang tulay natin sa mga pangunahing stakeholders para mas maging mabilis at malinaw ang ating koordinasyon. Through open dialogue, we will not only respond to operational issues, but we will also identify the root cause of problems to provide lasting solutions. Mababawasan natin ang mga pagkaantala habang sinisiguro na buo ang koleksyon ng gobyerno at ligtas ang ating mga hangganan,” Commissioner Nepomuceno said.
The establishment of the TIO forms part of the BOC’s Integrity, Accountability, and Modernization agenda, directly supporting President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to improve the ease of doing business in the Philippines. The TIO will continue its engagements with stakeholders to sustain long-term improvements across frontline customs services.
