CLOSING REMARKS delivered by Ms. Lilibeth C. Bonifacio, Chief, Interim Training &

Development Division, Bureau of Customs to the

Industry Orientation Program (IOP) for the Bureau of Customson May 17, 2011, at the President’s Room, CCBC – 4/F POM Bldg.

Distinguished resource speakers and facilitators from the Federation of Philippine Industries (FPI),

Ms. Elizabeth H. Lee, Director of FPI; President of Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines (CAMPI)

Mr. Greg Yee- Local Trucks/Bus Industry;Mr. Johnny Montemayor, Ceramic Tiles Industry;Ms. Connie Torregos, Sanitary Wares Industry;Mr. Sput Monasterio, Sugar Industry;Mr. Ric Patawaran, Plywood Industry;Mr, Alberto Oliveros, Flat Glass Industry;Mr. Michael Dy, Cement Industry;Mr. Christopher Ronquillo, Resins and Plastic Industry;Mr. Ronald Joel Magsajo, Ms. Pat Santos, Mr. Wilbert Escame, and Mr.

Ferdinand Cruz, all from the Steel Industry;

Colleagues in the Bureau of Customs, ladies and gentlemen, Good Afternoon!

First, let me congratulate all of you in your active participation on this orientation seminar!

This one & half day seminar has been hectic days for all of you, as you learn to distinguished the different things and standards in the identification and eventual classification of commodities that are flowing through the international trade and entering our borders.

For some of you, this perhaps was your first time to ever encounter such meticulous task, while for others, it has been a brisk review of what you have been doing in you jobs. Hopefully, this seminar has broadened your minds on the intricacies of the identification processes of commodities.

We would like to express our appreciation to our guest lecturers –from the Federation of Philippine Industries. Your commitment in helping the capacity-building program of the Bureau of Customs is part of your legacy to the bureau, which we are thankful for. “Marami pong Salamat!”

To the hardworking staff of the organizers, headed by Mr. Mau Arce from FPI and Ms. Lesil Jaspe from the Interim Training & Development Division, thank you for coordinating and preparing all the materials for the activities!

To our participants of this orientation course, we are looking forward that your learning will yield harmony and fruitfulness - in the collection efforts of the bureau and enhance your skills as customs officers.

Lastly, I would like to commend the efforts of all of you for making it through the 2-day seminar. I believe that as you make full use of what you have learned in this seminar as our Industry Commodity Experts (ICEs) have enhanced your identification and classification skills -- that you will continue to endeavor to make a mark in the history of the Bureau of Customs as we all fulfill our respective functions toward the attainment of the Bureau of Customs vision, to become “A customs administration which is among the world’s best that every Filipino can be proud of”.

Once again, CONGRATULATIONS!

Mabuhay kayong lahat!