BOC-Cebu posts P660 million surplus despite pandemic

CEBU, Philippines — Despite the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic that cripples the world economy, the Bureau of Customs in Cebu reported a positive revenue collection output from January to May this year.

BOC-Cebu acting district collector Atty. Charlito Martin R. Mendoza posted a total collection of P11.59 billion from January to May. The amount was P660 million higher than its P10.942 billion target for the period.

 Mendoza said that BOC-Cebu has a target collection of P26.7 billion for 2020. The amount, however, was already reduced from the original target of P37 billion set by the Department of Finance due to the health crisis.

Mendoza attributed his positive performance despite the plunging volume of importations to the imported rice, foodstuff, oil, coal, construction materials, and telecommunication equipment coming in through the Cebu Port.

“These are importation na malaki yung mga binabayaran nilang mga customs taxes and duties. Kaya despite bumaba yung volume of importation, we are still able to reach our target and with a surplus of around P600 million,” Mendoza said in an interview with The Freeman.

Mendoza said that importation continues amid the COVID-19 pandemic albeit lesser in volume.

“Our operations continue, tuloy tuloy lang,” Mendoza said.

The Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC)  has reduced the entire collection target of BOC in the middle of May from P751 billion to P541 billion in 2020.

DBCC is the body that sets the collection targets of the Bureau of  Internal Revenue (BIR) and BOC.

Meanwhile, the Bureau of Customs- Assessment and Operations Coordinating Group (AOCG) has disposed of 1,317 containers constituting 23% of the total abandoned or overstaying cargo from January 2020.

The BOC, in a statement, said that the actions taken by 7 of 17 ports in the disposition of overstaying containers has generated P375,796,466.77 in total revenues from 656 containers subjected to public auctions. There were 427 containers that were condemned and 234 donated. Overstaying containers are either seized or abandoned.

Under CMO 10-2020, overstaying cargoes for more than 30 days from the date of discharge shall be tagged abandoned, and upon finality of the Decree of Abandonment, the BOC shall then make the proper determination as to its disposition.

Section 1141 of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act states that goods subject to disposition may be donated, declared for official use by the BOC or sold at public auction, while goods suitable for shelter or consisting of foodstuffs, clothing materials, or medicines may be donated to the Department of Social Welfare and Development.  FPL (FREEMAN)