BOC exceeds Jan-May collection target

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) exceeded its official collection goal set by the administration for the five-month (Jan-May) period by P237 million, according to a Bureau of Treasury report.

Customs Commissioner Titus B. Villanueva said despite the difficult times the nation has gone through lately, his agency was able to collect P38.2 billion as against a target of P37.9 billion for the months of Jan-May 2001.

Figures taken from the Bureau of Treasury report also indicated that the latest collection performance of the Bureau of Customs overshot last year’s collection for the same five-month period by some P2 billion.

Villanueva attributed the modest increase to the determined collection of back accounts by customs authorities, speedy processing of seized smuggled shipments, intensified anti-smuggling operation and the full utilization of the BOCs computers which make for an efficient collection system.

Many BOC observers were skeptical on the capability of the BOC to attain its collection target given the series of events which doesn’t augur well for the economy of the country – like the failed EDSA rebellion in the first quarter of the year and the recent kidnapping activity by bandits in western Mindanao.

Despite the odds, Villanueva is optimistic that the BOC will not only attain its collection goal set by the government for this year but may also exceed it. He said his agency will continue to double its efforts to collect the revenue that the government badly needs.

He added that innovations and proper procedures have been instituted in his agency to establish a favorable business climate and for efficient revenue collection.

Meanwhile, the Bureau of Customs announced today that initial annual registration fee of importers issued by the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) for the certification of registration is P1,000 only and the subsequent annual update of registration is P500 only. Villanueva also stressed that any customs official demanding any money in excess of the required official amount should be reported to his office for investigation and punishment.