BOC up for another revamp

The Bureau of Customs (BoC) may be in line for another major reorganization in line with its campaign to meet the P197-billion assigned revenue target for the year as it comes to a crucial period.

Customs Commissioner Napoleon Morales yesterday hinted a possible reshuffle of assignments of BoC collectors after he admitted some of them have consistently failed to meet their respective monthly targets.

"We have an ongoing review of performance of our collectors and officials. And it has been my policy to let go of non-performing assets. We will not hesitate to have another reshuffle, ASAP (as soon as possible)," Morales said.

In a collection report prepared by the bureau’s finance services division, it was found that nine of the 15 port districts had failed to meet their respective targets for October, including the Manila International Container Port (MICP) and Port of Manila (PoM).

The MICP, which is headed by Collector Adelina Molina, was once again at the bottom of the bureau’s performance list with a whopping collection deficit of P1.226-billion from its target of P5.635 billion. This performance of MICP has been consistent in the past months as shown by BoC records.

The PoM, on the other hand, had its third shortfall in October. The district, under Collector Horacio Suansing Jr., collected only P5.732 billion for the month — a figure that was P781 million below its target of P6.513 billion.

Other port districts that failed to meet their targets for October were: Ninoy Aquino International Airport with a P326-million deficit, Port of Cagayan De Oro with P135 million, Port of Cebu with P103 million, Port of Zamboanga with P2.4 million, Port of Surigao with P5.8 million, Port of Davao with P2.4 million, and Port of Legaspi with P1 million.

Although the BoC surpassed its P18.2-billion target in October by P940 million, Morales believes the agency could have done better if only the Customs collectors in all 15 port districts had improved on their collection performance.

Last September, the bureau fell short in meeting its P18.530-billion target by almost P2 billion.

Morales said that a reorganization in the bureau would be the most viable move to improve on its collection performance: "We have to take action because if we fail to meet our assigned target, the blame would be put on me."

The BoC last had a re-organization in August. Morales re-assigned Customs collectors in all 15 districts as a result of consistent failure to meet their targets.

The Customs chief likewise said his warning applies not only to district collectors who consistently failed to meet their targets, but also to officials and employees who could be involved in smuggling operations.

"I always point out that our campaign against smugglers is an essential part of our drive to meet our collection target. So we keep our warning against Customs officers who are involved in smuggling: You can run but you can’t hide," Morales noted.