The Bureau of Customs (BOC) collected P120.384 billion in the first four months of 2015, higher by 2.6% from the P117.266 billion collected in the same period last year, but 14.4% lower than the P37.352-billion target.
For April alone, BOC collection dropped 8.5% to P28.141 billion from P30.764 billion despite an increase in collections from non-oil imports. The revenue is also 24.1% lower than the target of P37.352 billion.
Collections from non-oil shipments, on the other hand, grew 5% to P22.699 billion this April from P21.623 billion year-on-year, driven by higher volume and value of imports — 12% and 2.6%, respectively.
However, despite a 6.7% increase in volume of oil imports, collections from the same commodity for the month—which accounted for 30% of total collections in April last year—fell to P5.441 billion from P9.141 billion in 2014 due to a 45% decline in the weighted average values of crude oil and petroleum products.
Of BOC’s 17 port districts, Manila International Container Port contributed the largest revenue for the first four months with P34.342 billion, followed by Batangas with P25.679 billion. The Port of Manila, which previously contributed the second highest, is now third with P19.778 billion, while Ninoy Aquino International Airport recorded P10.505 billion. Limay port accounted for P6.723 billion, followed by Subic with P4.94 billion.
Only Legazpi, Iloilo, Zamboanga, and Davao surpassed their targets for January to April.
BOC’s collection target for 2015 is P436.5 billion.
In another development, the agency said it will issue new identification cards to employees and various stakeholders to promote a safe and secure working environment.
Customs Commissioner Alberto Lina, through Customs Memorandum Order No. 16-2015 signed June 15, said BOC’s Human Resource Management Division will soon release the new identification cards to all officials, employees, job orders and contracts of services, and various stakeholders. – Roumina Pablo
Image courtesy of ddpavumba at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
