MANILA, Philippines - The Bureau of Customs is off to a good start, posting a collection surplus of over P200 million in January this year, the first time under Ruffy Biazon’s watch.
The BOC exceeded its collection target of P24.3 billion for January with total collections reaching P24.5 billion. The figure is P2.51 billion higher than the same period in 2012.
The higher collection was attributed to the reorganization of key Customs personnel in the early part of January.
Biazon, who took over the reins of the BOC in 2011, is hopeful the agency will surpass or at least meet its collection target for the year of P340 billion with the full completion of its computerization program.
“We may have found the right chemistry among our officials to enable us to meet our collection target for 2013, although it remains to be seen as we progress through the year. As I have said when I announced my 2013 reconfiguration program for the BOC, the purpose of the program is to place the right people at the right assignments, where they can best deliver their talents, experience and training in revenue generation,†Biazon said.
The BOC last exceeded its collection target in March 2011 under the leadership of Angelito Alvarez who stepped down from office.
Biazon is hopeful the agency will surpass or at least meet its collection target for the year of P340 billion with the full completion of its computerization program.
He said he would closely watch all BOC officials, especially those in the collection frontlines, to ensure that they are doing their best to attain the agency’s collection target for the year.
“I have given our frontline officials their respective monthly collection and apprehension targets, if only to keep them on their toes at all times, and I will be monitoring their performances on a quarterly basis,†Biazon said.
“I won’t hesitate to undertake more rounds of reconfiguration moves, should I find it necessary, if only to ensure our meeting the collection target assigned to us by the government for 2013,†he added.