The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has surpassed its collection target in February by P8.734 billion or 17.4 percent, the agency said in a statement yesterday as 14 of the 17 districts exceeded their target for the month.
The BOC said that based on its preliminary report, actual collections amounted to P59.04 billion against the P50.3 billion revenue goal.
Those which exceeded their targets are the ports of San Fernando, Manila, Batangas, Iloilo, Cebu, Tacloban, Cagayan de Oro, Zamboanga, Davao, Subic, Clark, Aparri, Limay and the Manila International Container Port.
The BOC has collected P117.52 billion since January reflecting 17.3 percent of the 2022 annual target collection.
The bureau attributed its performance to the improved valuation and intensified collection efforts of all the ports.
The BOC has also maintained its border security measures against undervaluation, misdeclaration and other forms of technical smuggling.
Meanwhile, Carlos Dominguez, Department of Finance secretary, said that he has asked BOC commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero to invite all Presidential candidates for a briefing in the BOC offices, as almost all of the candidates who were present in a recent TV debate chose BOC as first on their corruption probe list. — Angela Celis
