The Civil Service Commission (CSC) has selected as a recipient of the Presidential Lingkod-Bayan Award an official of the Bureau of Customs.
John Simon, collector of the sub-port of Iligan was recognized as Regional Winner in the CSC’s search for this year’s Outstanding Government Workers under the Presidential Lingkod-Bayan Award. The award was given last September 15 at the Mallberry Suites, Business Hotel in Cagayan de Oro.
Simon was appointed as acting Customs Collector of Iligan, a sub-port under the collection district of Cagayan de Oro, in September 2013. As Collector, he has implemented various programs and policies that helped improve trade facilitation, and enhance Customs procedures at the said port.
Simon said that he wants to contribute to national economic competitiveness as well as to the restoration of Iligan City into an industrial hub in Northern Mindanao. All his programs and policies are aligned with four governing principles: Focus; Quality Management; Service Culture; and Effective Communication.
He believes that through improved communication and quality service, reforms would be possible in the agency. He gives importance to the role of every stakeholder and BOC personnel in establishing efficient Customs administration that every Filipino can be proud of.
His reform efforts are evident in the collection performance of the sub-port, exceeding their collection targets from the period 2013 to 2016. In 2013 Iligan port exceeded the collection target by 32 percent. The following year, they collected more than P178 million or a 0.06 percent increase in revenue. In 2015 and 2016, they exceeded their targets by 32% and 48% respectively.
“For the last four years, we had collected more than P1,105,679,444,” he said. The collected revenue was added to the coffers of the state to be used for government expenditures.
Collector Simon also led the filing of cases against National Steel Corporation, recovering a total of P110 million unpaid duties and taxes from its various importations from 1997 – 2000.
“As the guardian of our nation’s borders and the front liner in safeguarding our port from customs fraud, economic criminality, drugs, and instruments of terror, we were able to develop an effective and efficient detection and prevention capability. But most importantly, we have the courage to say no to the never-ending enticing offers from smugglers and illicit traders,” Simon added. | CSC
