MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has announced a major reshuffle within his economic and revenue team, appointing new leadership across key investment promotion and tax-collection agencies to drive business growth, boost employment, and enhance public service delivery.
Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro revealed the appointments during a press briefing on Friday, November 13, emphasizing the administration’s commitment to placing experienced officials in strategic roles.
“Tamang tao, sa tamang posisyon,” Castro said, noting that performance will be measured by tangible public benefits. “Ang sukatan ay malinaw: mas maraming trabaho malapit sa pamilya, mas mabilis na transaksiyon, at mas maayos na serbisyo para sa bawat Pilipino.”
Leadership Changes Across Key Agencies
The sweeping reorganization involves several high-profile shifts among top government officials:
- Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA): Former Bureau of Customs (BOC) Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno assumes the role of BCDA president and CEO. A UP magna cum laude graduate with an executive MBA from the Asian Institute of Management, Nepomuceno is tasked with leveraging state assets to attract investments and build robust economic hubs.
- Bureau of Customs (BOC): Former Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Commissioner Charlito Mendoza takes over as the new BOC chief. A lawyer and geodetic engineer who placed third in the bar examinations, Mendoza aims to optimize revenue collection, ramp up anti-smuggling operations, and streamline port processing.
- Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR): Department of Finance (DOF) Undersecretary Rolando Ligon Jr. steps in as the new BIR commissioner, bringing two decades of revenue agency experience. “His mandate is simple: to make things easier for honest taxpayers, tougher on those who evade,” Castro stated.
- Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA): Outgoing BCDA chief Engineer Jake Bingcang transitions to lead PEZA as its new director general, focusing on streamlining procedures and attracting foreign and local investors to the country’s economic zones.
- Toll Regulatory Board (TRB): Former PEZA Director General Tereso Panga has been appointed executive director of the TRB to oversee fair, efficient, and reliable expressway operations for motorists.
The Palace stated that these strategic changes are designed to fortify the country’s investment climate, generate more local jobs, and ensure that government agencies deliver efficient results for citizens.