THE Bureau of Customs (BoC) has established an office under the Office of the Commissioner to centralize coordination with government agencies, local government units, and private-sector stakeholders.
Under Customs Memorandum Order No. 17-2026, Customs Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno ordered the creation of the Customs Local Affairs Office (CLAO), which will serve as the bureau’s central office for domestic stakeholder engagement and institutional partnerships.
The office is tasked with developing, implementing, and monitoring programs that promote stakeholder engagement and public awareness.
It will also serve as the BoC’s principal coordinating office for domestic inter-agency councils, committees, technical working groups, task forces, and other similar collaborative bodies.
It will also maintain a centralized repository of memoranda of agreement, memoranda of understanding, partnership frameworks, institutional engagements, and other collaborative initiatives.
The CLAO will operate as an ad hoc office headed by a director, with divisions, sections, and support units that may be authorized by the commissioner.
“Any plantilla positions necessary for the staffing of the CLAO shall be subject to the approval of the Department of Budget and Management,” the order stated.
The order, signed Oct. 6, took effect immediately. — Justine Irish D. Tabile