The Bureau of Customs (BOC) Port of Cebu will soon have its own new building to be located on the adjacent lot of Cebu International Port Complex where the present building stands.
The new customs house dubbed Aduana de Cebu will provide a more conducive working environment for the employees and will finally give BOC Port of Cebu a permanent home, according to acting district collector Atty. Charlito Martin Mendoza in a post on BOC Cebu’s social media page.
The contract of usufruct with Cebu Port Authority, the agency which owns the area, is close to being finalized. Mendoza and deputy collector for administration Shirley Abarintos also met on January 22 with architect Richelle Reyes Baria, who handles the project, to make final refinements to the architectural design, as well as prepare the bidding requirements.
Reyes said the new Aduana De Cebu is a new interpretation and design of the old building, lifting inspiration from Malacañang sa Sugbo, the official residence in the Visayas of the Philippine president.
The building will also showcase a garden in the middle, envisioned as a “breathing space” for both employees and stakeholders.
Reyes said BOC-Cebu officials and employees were “very much involved in the planning and design process” and all spatial and building requirements were thoroughly laid out.
Aside from BOC-Cebu, BOC Port of Legazpi is also building its own office this year, while BOC Port of Manila is currently constructing a temporary office after its building was razed by fire in February 2019.
