The Bureau of Customs (BOC) collected P53.33 billion in April 2019, surpassing its P51.604-billion target by 3.3%. This the second month that BOC has hit its monthly target this year; the first was in January.
The latest figure is also 14% higher than the P46.794 billion in actual collection recorded in April 2018.
Customs commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero, in a statement, said the accomplishment was due to “stringent monitoring and continuing efforts to enhance our revenue collection capabilities,” as well as the agency’s “intensified control measures against undervaluation, misdeclaration and other forms of technical smuggling.”
He said he gave “all the district collectors a stern order to closely monitor all the transactions in their respective ports to ensure that the correct duties and taxes are being paid and that customs laws, rules and regulations are being followed.”
Based on the preliminary report by BOC’s Financial Service, 12 of BOC’s 17 collection districts hit their respective targets, namely, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Legazpi, Limay, Manila International Container Port, Ninoy Aquino International Airport, San Fernando, Subic, Tacloban and Zamboanga.
BOC in 2019 is tasked to collect P677 billion, which Guerrero earlier said was doable with the strict implementation of customs rules and regulations; correct valuation/assessment of commodities and taxes due; streamlining of processes and enhancement of computer systems to facilitate trade and eliminate opportunities for corruption; daily monitoring and close supervision of collection; and strict enforcement of border control measures to eradicate smuggling and boost revenue collection.
