The Philippine Bureau of Customs’ (BOC) September collection of P33.951 billion is almost a billion peso more than the P33.002 billion collection in August, based on initial data from BOC’s Financial Service.
The latest figure represents 94.9% of the agency’s P35.790-billion revenue target for September. The final tally is expected to increase even more once all port reports come in.
The September collection is also higher than P32.651 billion posted in the same month of 2015, BOC said in a statement.
Monthly revenues have “been increasing since the administration of Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon posted a P30.278-billion revenue collection for July,” the agency said.
An industry expert told PortCalls there has been a volume upswing since July, as shipments usually increase between July and October in the runup to the holiday season.
Data from the Philippine Ports Authority show that cargo volume jumped 11% in the first seven months of the year to 141.770 million metric tons (mmt) from 128.217 mmt registered in the same period last year.
READ: PH ports log 11% hike in cargo volume
Of the 17 collection districts, six exceeded their targets for September by more than 100%. These are the ports of Clark, P225.2 million; Iloilo, P211.8 million; Zamboanga, P19.5 million; Cebu, P1.759 billion; Davao, P1.052 billion; and Batangas, P8.529 billion. Manila International Container Terminal registered a collection of P10.583 billion, and is nearing its P10.601-billion target.
Faeldon welcomed the improvement in revenue collection, while reminding the public that apart from this, BOC’s other mandates include trade facilitation and border security.
“It depends on our ability to address other issues (in order for us to) improve the revenue collection,” Faeldon said. He stressed in earlier interviews that eradicating corruption—which he said his leadership is working on—will help promote higher collections.
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