The Bureau of the Customs has surpassed its February collection target driven higher by reforms that boosted the collection efficiency of the government’s second largest tax agency.
Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Y. Rubio said on Friday that collection exceeded the P61.83 billion target in February by three percent, having actually raised a total P63.01 billion instead.
“We will continue to innovate and implement sustainable reforms to boost the Bureau’s collection efficiency, which will contribute to the expansion and recovery of our national economy,” Rubio said in a statement.
Year-on-year, customs collection improved by six percent from P59.43 billion in February 2022.
To sustain the better than expected collection, Rubio said “we will also prioritize fostering a healthier trade environment through enhanced and modernized mechanisms for efficient trade facilitation and improved Customs operations for all our stakeholders.”
In the first two-months of the year, collection at the customs bureau reached P133.38 billion, higher by seven percent against the P124.74 billion goal for the period.
Meanwhile, the bureau foiled over 30,000 sacks of misdeclared refined sugar valued at P150 million on Thursday at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone in Olongapo City, Zambales.
Subic District Collector Maritess Martin issued pre-lodgement control and alert orders following derogatory information from the Department of Agriculture about the subject shipments.
Acting on the report received, Rubio led the examination of 58 containers which yielded more than 30,000 sacks of misdeclared refined sugar with an estimated value of P150 million.
Furthermore, the bureau examined two containers of squid rings where they found several misdeclared assorted frozen meat products valued more or less P40 million.
Customs will also issue a warrant of seizure and detention against the two containers with misdeclared frozen meat.
“The BOC continues to maximize its intelligence resources and intensify enforcement measures to thwart all attempts of smuggling, especially those involving agricultural products that negatively impact our local farmers and businesses,” Rubio said.
“It has always been a priority of the BOC to protect local consumers against the health hazards posed by these illegally imported goods,” he said.
