PHL customs bureau’s March collection reaches PHP37.6-B

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) collected PHP37.65 billion in duties and other taxes last month, surpassing its revenue goal of PHP36.57 billion by 3 percent. (Photo: Bureau of Customs PH/Facebook)

MANILA—The Bureau of Customs (BOC) collected PHP37.65 billion in duties and other taxes last month, surpassing its revenue goal of PHP36.57 billion by 3 percent.

Based on the preliminary report by the BOC’s Financial Service, the collection is also 16 percent higher than the PHP32.38 billion raised in March 2016.

It further reported that 10 of the 17 collection districts have exceeded their collection target for March.

The Manila International Container Port collected PHP11.72 billion, 3.7 percent higher than its PHP11.30 billion target, while the Port of Batangas raised PHP8.50 billion, 3.7 percent higher than its PHP8.19 billion target.

The Port of Cebu meanwhile secured PHP1.68 billion, beating its PHP1.60 billion goal by 4.8 percent; the Port of Cagayan de Oro got PHP1.266 billion, 44 percent more than its PHP879.3 million target; and the Port of Davao collected PHP1.321 billion, surpassing its PHP1.06 billion target by 24.1 percent.

The other ports that exceeded their collection goals are: Port of Clark – PHP131 million, 5.4 percent higher than its PHP124.6 million target; Port of San Fernando – PHP244 million, 30.2 percent more than its PHP187.5 million goal; Port of Legaspi – PHP77 million, 276.1 percent higher than its PHP20.5 million target; Port of Iloilo – PHP219 million, 8.7 percent higher than its target of PHP201 million; and Port of Zamboanga – PHP32 million, 128 percent more than its PHP14 million goal.

The bureau likewise exceeded its collection in January, posting PHP35.94 billion, higher than its PHP35.50 billion target for the month, and 15 percent higher year on year.

Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon said the revenue target for this year, which stands at PHP468 billion, is achievable.

“With the strong implementation of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act and our intensified operations against smuggling, I am positive that we will be able to achieve, or even exceed our 2017 revenue goal,” he said.