THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) collected P78.9 billion in August, beating its monthly collection target for the eighth consecutive time this year.
The second-biggest revenue collection agency said in a statement issued last Sunday that it exceeded its P58.8-billion goal for the month by P34.1 percent or P20 billion on the back of intensified collection efforts, streamlined digitized systems and higher volume of imports.
The bulk of the revenues during the month came from all collection districts at P77.9 billion. Revenues were also collected from the Tax Expenditure Fund (P677.4 million) and Post-Clearance Audit Group (P248.2 million).
All 17 ports surpassed their targets and cumulatively hit a P15.8 billion or 25-percent surplus.
Acting Customs Commissioner Yogi Filemon Ruiz earlier said the BOC aimed to hit another record-high monthly collection this August, even higher than the agency’s revenue take in July this year of P84.4 billion.
Ruiz, however, admitted the objective faced a challenge in the observance of the Chinese “Ghost Month” festival when most people eschew making big-life decisions, including in business.
Since the start of this year, the BOC has generated revenues amounting to P559.2 billion as of end-July, surging by 35.6 percent from P412 billion collected in the same period last year.
This year, the BOC is tasked to collect P721.5 billion this year. Ruiz earlier expressed confidence the agency is on track to hit its higher internal collection goal of P740 billion.
The Acting Customs chief has also vowed to replace district collectors who will fall short of their assigned revenue targets. Ruiz said the move is in line with the marching order of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to improve the bureau’s revenue generation.
Apart from increasing revenue generation, Ruiz said the President also ordered him to eliminate the smuggling of illegal drugs, firearms and agricultural products as well as full automation and digitalization of Customs processes.