Customs exceeds February collection goal

MANILA, Philippines — Collections of the Bureau of Customs amounted to P43.67 billion in February, exceeding the P41.71 billion target by 4.7 percent as a majority of ports nationwide showed improvement in their collection efforts, BOC Commissioner Isidro Lapeña reported yesterday.

According to Lapeña, the revenue in February was also 41.5 percent higher than the P30.85 billion recorded in the same month last year.

The BOC attributed the growth to the improved performance of majority of the country’s ports amid intensified anti-smuggling and corruption efforts.

“Majority or 14 out of the 17 ports of the Bureau of Customs exceeded their collection target for the month and this is mainly because of the intensive campaign against corruption and smuggling,” Lapeña said.

The Manila International Container Port, in particular, collected P13.44 billion, surpassing the P12.86 billion target for the month by P577 million.

The Port of Manila, likewise, reported a 4.1 percent surplus in collections, which amounted to P6.529 billion in February.

The Port of Batangas, on the other hand, collected P9.98 billion, 3.4 percent higher than the P9.656 billion revenue goal.

Lapeña said 11 other ports exceeded their targets and contributed to the increase in BOC’s collection.

These are the Port of Limay (which collected P2.54 billion), Port of Cebu (P2.08 billion), Port of Davao (P2.07 billion), Port of Cagayan de Oro  (P1.67 billion), Port of Subic (P1.51 billion), Port of Iloilo (P373 million), Port of San Fernando (P293 million), Port of Clark collected (P142 million), Port of Tacloban (P81 million), Port of Legazpi (P53 million) and Port of Aparri (P27 million).