THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) has reported breaching its revenue collection target for seven consecutive months, posting a revenue surplus of P2.326 billion in August, with strong collections coming from more than a dozen ports.
Based on preliminary data from the BOC, the bureau’s revenue collection for August reached P51.739 billion higher than its collection target of P49.31 billion for the month. This also posted an expansion of 35.12 percent, from the recorded revenues of P38.289 billion in August last year.
Preliminary data from the BOC’s financial service department shows 15 collection districts to have significantly contributed to this positive revenue collection performance. Aside from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, which collected P3.106 billion, these ports include the following: Batangas, which collected P12.716 billion; Manila at P7.810 billion; Limay, with P3.435 billion; Cebu with P2.513 billion; Davao collected P2.401 billion; Cagayan de Oro with P1.913 billion; San Fernando with P397 million; Iloilo with P378 million; Clark collected P147 million; Tacloban with P102 million; Legaspi collected P33 million; Zamboanga with P24 million; Aparri collected P7 million; and the Port of Surigao, which collected P2 million.
Not far from reaching their collection targets are the Manila International Container Port and the Port of Subic with a total collection of P14.782 billion and P1.478 billion, respectively.
The target for the MICP for August was P15.237 billion, while the Port of Subic was given a P1.788-billion target for the month.
It also cites the bureau’s consistent high revenue performance to the higher exchange rate, increased oil price in the market, proper valuation and strong enforcement and
revenue enhancing measures.
Customs Commissioner Isidro S. Lapeña’s one-strike policy may have motivated the ports to consistently hit their targets, a statement by the BOC said.
The BOC has so far collected a total of P384.3 billion in revenues from January to August, which is 35.5 percent higher against the P283.56-billion collection in the same period for 2017.
BOC Spokesman Erastus Sandino B. Austria told the BusinessMirror that the bureau’s target for the remaining months of the year was increased by P13 billion.
“Our revenue generation is positive. At present, we are tasked to collect P13 billion more. So our target is almost P600 billion. We wont rest until we reach the target,” Austria said.
Image credits: Nonie Reyes