THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) has exceeded its target collection for March based on preliminary estimates.
As of March 23, the BOC took in P14.5 billion, only P5.11 billion short of the P19.61-billion target. The gap is expected to be easily covered by collections for the remaining days of March and tax from rice imports.
The bureau may have already reached its monthly target, as P5.8 billion from the January to February Tax Expenditure Fund (TEF) — duties representing rice imports of the National Food Authority — will be credited to the BOC by month’s end.
“Our economy is booming compared with last year. And our e2m (electronic-to-mobile project) is also helping us collect more,” Customs commissioner Napoleon L. Morales said.
The country’s largest, the Manila International Container Port took in P3.55 billion although its monthly target is P5.15 billion.
Batangas port, the site of oil depots of large petroleum firms, has so far collected P1.96 billion; its goal is P3.3 billion.
On the other hand, the Port of Manila (POM) and Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) hit their daily target collection.
POM, which has a goal of P3.19 billion, brought in P3.07 billion as of early last week, while NAIA collected P971 million against its target of P1.32 billion.
Limay, also an oil port, has already surpassed its target of P1.74 billion and collected P2.12 billion.
Ports unable to hit their daily target collection include Legaspi, Cagayan de Oro, Surigao, Zamboanga and Clark. Those that did include San Fernando, Iloilo, Cebu, Tacloban, Davao, Subic Bay.
This year BOC is tasked to contribute P273 billion to the national coffers.
