Customs Cebu exceeds collection target by P13M

CEBU - The Bureau of Customs in Cebu has exceeded its target collection for 2008 by P13 million even before the year ends.

BOC assessment division chief Carlos Corsiga said that as of last month, their tax collection has reached P5,013,545,731.36, over P13 million more than the target annual collection of P5 billion.

Corsiga said efficiency in collection can be attributed to the strict enforcement of customs and tariff laws.

“Everybody is helping each other to collect the right amount of taxes and duties,” Corsiga said.

BOC assessment division assistant chief Florante Ricarte, meanwhile, said the huge volume of imported liquefied petroleum gas, cement clinker and coal played a big role in compensating for the relatively low importation this year.

Records show that BOC- Cebu has collected P1,194,756,134.67 for the first quarter of 2008, P114,756,134.67 higher than their targeted collection of P1,080,000.

In the second quarter, collection reached P1,434,890,022.07 or P124,890,022.07 more than the targeted collection P1,310,000.

The BOC targeted to collect P1,320,000 but it was able to collect P152,235,832, exceeding P1,472,235,832.

Corsiga said they are targeting to collect P410 million for this month but there is reportedly a possibility that this amount would not be reached owing to the long holiday from December 24 to 31. — Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon/JMO   (THE FREEMAN)