THE government raised over half a billion pesos in revenues from the disposal of thousands of unclaimed containers in a public auction last year, according to the Bureau of Customs (BOC).
About 2,407 overstaying containers were disposed by the BOC Assessment and Operations Coordinating Group together with the Auction and Cargo Disposal Division as well as the ACD units of all collection districts nationwide.
The BOC said it was able to raise some P555.44 million from the public auction of 1,257 containers; the remaining 1,150 containers were either condemned or destroyed.
“These containers were forfeited after seizure or abandonment proceedings under Sections 1139 and 1141 of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act, which provides for the conditions and modes of disposition, respectively,” BOC said.
Inside the auctioned containers were assorted items such as rice and galvanized steel while the condemned units contained clothing, rotten food, used oil, used furniture and other articles deemed without value by Customs personnel.
Citing Customs Administrative Order 17-2019, the BOC said cargoes that weren’t withdrawn within the regulatory period of 30 calendar days from payment of duties, taxes and other charges shall be deemed abandoned.
This is unless these are covered by a duly-issued alert order and upon the finality of the “decree of abandonment.” The bureau will then determine the proper disposition such as auction, condemnation or donation.
These disposition activities also resulted in the efficient trade facilitation by eliminating port and yard congestion, and ensuring the smooth flow of business within the agency.
The bureau assures the public that it will remain steadfast in ensuring unhampered delivery of its services, especially in these trying times that the movement of goods, essentials and non-essentials, is deemed both substantial and critical.
Revenues
MEANWHILE, in an economic bulletin, Department of Finance Chief Economist Gil S. Beltran said government’s efforts to raise revenues last year will play an important role in the country’s economic recovery in the new year.
“Despite higher fiscal deficit, a strong revenue performance enabled the country to maintain good macroeconomic fundamentals, attain manageable inflation, sustain low interest rates and keep its investment grade credit rating,” Beltran said. “These positive developments augur well for a strong economic recovery as the country gradually loosens its quarantine restrictions.”
Based on the first 10 months of 2021, total national government revenues increased five percent to P2.49 trillion from P2.37 trillion in the same period in 2020. Tax revenues rose by 9.1 percent, higher than the 7.4 percent nominal GDP growth in the first three quarters of 2021. BIR collections increased by 6.8 percent, which is slower than the 9-month nominal gross domestic product growth due to the closure of a domestic refinery. The latter led to the BIR collecting a lower share of petroleum product taxes.
BOC collections rose by 17.1 percent as imports recovered. BOC’s collections of P525.4 billion over the period is lower by a hairline than its pre-pandemic collections of P527.7 billion.
Non-tax revenues dropped by 22 percent due to nonrecurring collections last year from government corporations and government offices as mandated under Bayanihan 1.
Meanwhile, expenditures increased by 11.5 percent, partly on account of disbursements for Covid-response programs.