Bautista resigns as transportation secretary

The Palace on Thursday announced the appointment of Vivencio Dizon as the next secretary of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) following the resignation of  Jaime Bautista due to health reasons.
In a statement, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said the appointment of Dizon will take effect on February 21.
“He is already authorized by the Office of the President to start the transition at the DOTr in coordination with the team of Secretary Jaime Bautista, who has resigned due to health reasons,” he said.
The DOTr oversees most of the big ticket items, some of which are funded through Official Development Assistance from Japan and multi-lateral funding institutions.
These are the subway project, the North-South Commuter Railway and MRT extension to Cavite.
In a statement, the DOTr said that Bautista  ”thanked the President for the opportunity to work in government which Bautista considered his most challenging stint.”
”He also called his first government post most enriching, having served with utmost integrity,” it stated.
“Sec. Bautista looks forward to a smooth transition, after which a much needed vacation to recuperate from two and half years of intense public service,” the DOTr added. Robina Asido/DMS

Customs posted P931b revenues in 2024, says Marcos

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) generated P931.046 billion in revenues last year, up by P40 billion from P890.446 billion in 2023.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. acknowledged this accomplishment during the BOC’s 123rd-anniversary celebrations on Friday and stressed the importance of increased revenue collection.

The numbers, the President said, are significant as revenues are used in developing educational and infrastructure systems and many other projects.

“Ibig sabihin, sa tamang pagkokolekta ng taripa sa ating mga pantalan, mas mabilis ang biyahe ng ating mga kababayan, magkakaroon ng sapat na kagamitan sa pag-aaral ng ating mga anak, at mapapagtapos natin sa kolehiyo ang mas marami pa nating mga kabataan,” Marcos said.

The President praised the BOC’s efforts to protect the country’s borders from economic exploitation. He noted that the BOC confiscated more than P85.167 billion worth of smuggled goods last year, nearly doubling the P43.295 billion seized in 2023.

At the same time, the President called on the officials and personnel of the BOC to prioritize public interest, work honestly, and ensure the people’s welfare.

He said building public confidence in the BOC is necessary to increase tax compliance.

Marcos congratulated the BOC’s Leadership Awards recipients for their extraordinary work supporting the agency and the administration’s objectives.

He expressed optimism that the awardees will continue to excel and lead the bureau into a new era of efficiency and integrity.

“This is the kind of leadership that Filipino citizens require and this is what they deserve. So, we celebrate the BOC’s 123rd anniversary today with a challenge that involves everyone,” President Marcos said.

“Sa lahat ng opisyal, inspektor, at kawani ng BOC: Lagi ninyong unahin ang kapakanan ng sambayanan. Gampanan ninyo ang inyong tungkulin ng buong katapatan at may malasakit sa inyong kapwa Pilipino.” | PND