BOC-Cebu to hit P1 billion surplus of target collection

CEBU, Philippines - The Bureau of Customs-Cebu maintained its title as it is the only one among the 17 ports all over the country that is now heading towards attaining its P1 billion surplus of its target collection for 2016.

Data released by BOC-Cebu District Collector Rico Rey Francis "Koko" Holganza showed that from January 1 to November 30, they were able to collect a total of 16,791,700,000 against its target collection of P15,841,200,000.

As such, the bureau has now attained a surplus in its collection by P950.5 million for the same period.

"This is a team effort. We were able to attain this kind of performance with the help of the rank and file employees and under the leadership of Holganza," said BOC-Cebu Chief for Cash Division Conrado Abarintos.

Abarintos said that customs taxes and duties from meat importation (due to the Christmas season) helped them attain their P1.4 billion target collection for the month of November alone. The bureau collected P1.531 billion, exceeding its target by P127million.

     Abarintos said that by the end of the year, they expect to have a surplus of P1 billion from its P17.5 billion target for 2016.

Nationwide, of the seven billionaire ports — ports that have an assigned target collection of P1 billion per month — only the BOC-Cebu and Batangas port (with a surplus of P716.3 million of its target collection) were able to have a positive collection from January to November of this year.

The other billionaire ports like the Manila International Container Port, Subic Port, Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Port of Mante and Limay Port failed to hit their respective collection targets.

Aside from BOC-Cebu, of the 17 ports, only six other ports, namely: Surigao, Clark, Iloilo, Davao, Tacloban and Batangas, incurred a positive collection.

BOC officials nationwide will have a command conference within the month to determine and discuss their target collection for 2017.

Abarintos added that aside from meat importation, Cebu's ongoing power plant constructions, importation of coal, steel, oil, cement and construction materials have tremendously helped them attain their target collection.

Abarintos said that taxes and duties paid by the oil companies in Dumaguete and the collection from the port of Mactan have also helped them surpass their target collection.

The Customs District Collection-7 is composed of the Port of Cebu, which is the main port, and the sub-ports of Mactan and Dumaguete.

Last year, BOC-Cebu exceeded its 2015 target collection by over P923.3 million as it was able to collect P16,528,815,000 against its target of P15,605,460,000. (FREEMAN)