THE Bureau of Customs collected P18.2 billion in November, 32.4% off its goal of P26.93 billion, according to preliminary data.
This is the fifth straight month the agency’s target has not been reached leading to a further widening of the revenue shortfall, which now stands at P30.16 billion for the first eleven months of the year.
Key district ports or the billionaire ports, so called after their ability to rake in at least a billion pesos each month, had a total combined shortfall of P4.92 billion.
Leading the laggards is the oil port of Batangas, which missed its goal of P3.5 billion by P1.7 billion.
Another oil port, Limay posted a P1.6-billion deficit, collecting P2.2 billion against its P3.8-billion goal.
The Port of Manila had a P4.9-billion target but managed to bring in only P4.2 billion, short by P707 million. The adjacent Manila International Container Port registered a deficit of P687 million, taking in P5.5 billion vis-a-vis its P6.2-billion target.
The Ninoy Aquino International Airport posted a smaller shortfall of P226 million after it collected P1.4 billion compared to its goal of P1.6 billion.
Ports that exceeded their targets for November included Subic Bay which had a surplus of P59 million based on a P442-million target; Clark Field, P7.3 million surplus on a goal of P77 million; and Tacloban, P17 million in excess of its P31-million target.
Earlier, Customs Commissioner Angelito Alvarez said the BOC has little chance of hitting its 2010 target due to the adoption of the zero tariff on oil imports.
Next year, the BOC has a target revenue collection of P320 billion, P40 billion more than its goal this year of P280 billion.
