Extra work days net BOC P730 million

The Bureau of Customs’ move to remain open for business over the long weekend has paid off, with the agency collecting P730 million last Saturday and Monday alone.

Customs Commissioner Alexander Arevalo said the collection would boost the bureau’s campaign to reduce the agency’s current deficit of more than P5 billion.

Arevalo said last Saturday was the agency’s first operation on a weekend, initiated to increase collections and reduce the bureau’s deficit.

Earlier reports said Arevalo had ordered all customs ports nationwide to accept and release imported shipments on Saturdays and declared holidays.

The bureau, which is the source of about 20 percent of the national government’s revenue, is estimated to collect at least P500 million to P700 million each workday.

Arevalo said the agency managed to collect only about P130 million on the first Saturday it was open for business, but expects to improve collections over the next extra workdays. — Edu Punay