Cebu Customs wants building back

Customs Commissioner Ruffy Biazon INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

Worried that their building may no longer be safe, officials of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) in Cebu City have appealed to President Benigno Aquino III, through Customs Commissioner Ruffy Biazon, to allow them to return to the original Customs building in the city where the “Malacañang sa Sugbu” is presently located.

In a letter to the President, Biazon pointed out the “grave structural damage” brought by the 6.9 magnitude earthquake that rocked Cebu last February 6 on the current BOC-Cebu District building at the city’s port area.

According to Biazon, the strong earthquake damaged extensively the building’s structure, interior walls, ceiling and floors, making the building unsafe for Customs employees, industry stakeholders and other BOC clients.

“We are afraid that even only a slight tremor might cause some portions of the building to collapse. As much as possible, we do not want to take that chance, especially if it concerns the safety of our employees and industry stakeholders,” Biazon said.

The Cebu Customs office was relocated to a Philippine Ports Authority warehouse near the port after its centuries-old and historic BOC building in front of the Plaza Independencia along Morga Street was converted to “Malacañang of the South” during the time of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. It served as her official residence whenever she was in the Visayas.

But Biazon pointed out that the building had remained vacant for years already.

BOC Deputy Commissioner for internal administration Jorenz Tañada, who recently inspected the Cebu office, was shown by Port of Cebu District Collector Ronnie Silvestre the extent of the structural damage caused by the earthquake, Biazon said.

Tañada reported to Biazon that Silvestre and other Cebu officials were concerned about the safety of customs employees, stakeholders and the transacting public.

“The current BOC premises now have uneven floors with some cracks on some portions of it. Its walls are likewise in similar state. I am uncertain if, God forbid, another earthquake should hit Cebu, the structure would be able to withstand it,” Tañada said.

“At any rate, if we are to spend for refurbishing a structure, I would much prefer spending for something the BOC already owns,” he added.