Customs exceeds January target by P63 million

CEBU, Philippines — The Bureau of Customs (BOC) in Cebu has surged past its collection target for January this year.

The BOC, in his Facebook page, announced that it has already collected P2.93 billion, exceeding its P2.87 billion.

“Setting the year with a good collection performance, the port cemented a total revenue of P2,932,531,448.66 exceeding the collection target for the month by 2.21% or P63.531 million,” the post read.

BOC-Cebu acting district collector Charlito Martin Mendoza credited the port’s successful revenue collection to their personnel who are efficiently working on processing shipments.

He said “hitting the target was tough” considering the increase in the target of about P360 million.

“The port, however, was able to surmount the challenges through the dedication and commitment of its officers and personnel,” he said.

The port’s revenue stems from taking in shipments of oil, petroleum, rice, and food stuff, among others.

The port also recognized that much of its earnings came from top revenue contributors, which are the importers.

They are Filoil Logistics Corporation, Seaoil Philippines Inc., National Grid Corporation of the Philippines, Eccosential Foods Corporation, KEPCO SPC Power Corporation, Steelasia Manufacturing Corporation, Cebu Energy Development, Nitos International Venture Inc., Smart Communications Inc., and Phil Gold Processing and Refining.

BOC-Cebu is tasked to collect P36.98 billion this year. The bureau targets to collect P731.235 billion from its customs port districts nationwide.

Anti-Smuggling drive

On the other hand, with its strong commitment to secure the country’s border from smuggling and customs fraud, the BOC has strengthened its anti-smuggling efforts through the issuance of 926 Alert Orders against suspicious shipments and 68 Letters of Authority against establishments with a derogatory report last year.

BOC, in a separate statement, said the bureau’s intensified anti-smuggling operation led to the confiscation of P20.6 billion worth of infringing and illicit goods, including the P3.59 billion worth of illegal drugs in 2019.

Importers and brokers who violated customs rules and regulations were meted with revocation of BOC accreditation and were charged with criminal cases.

A total of 27 criminal cases involving 128 individuals and 21 customs brokers were filed in 2019 before the Department of Justice (DOJ).

The BOC also filed cases before the Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC) against 11 erring customs brokers.

Also, the BOC was able to monitor and control the entry of illegal wastes. A total of three issues were acted upon by the bureau in 2019 with 102 containers of waste imports re-exported to South Korea, Canada and Hong Kong.

Moreover, the intensified campaign of the BOC against the entry of risky and unsafe meat products resulted in the seizure of meat products weighing approximately 290.9 metric tons. All seized products were turned over to the Bureau of Animal Industry.  KQD  (FREEMAN)