MANILA, Philippines — Customs duties and taxes collected by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) went up in March from a year ago level, but failed to hit target due to the impact of the congestion in some of the country’s ports, an official said yesterday.
According to preliminary data posted in the agency’s website, the BOC’s collections last March reached P50.95 billion, 12.6 percent higher than the P45.251 billion recorded in the same month last year.
However, the amount was also 1.07 percent lower than the target of P51.52 billion for the period.
“There are various reasons (for the below-target collection). The congestion last year has affected the volume and frequency of arrival of vessels now. The target is based on macroeconomic assumptions that do not necessarily materialize,” Customs spokesperson Dino Austria said in a text message.
The March figure brought the BOC’s total collections for the first quarter to P143.53 billion, up from P129.798 billion a year ago.
According to BOC data, nine ports in the country posted above-target collections in March, including the ports of Aparri, Cagayan De Oro, Davao, Limay, San Fernando, Subic, Surigao, Tacloban and Zamboanga.
On the other hand, eight other ports, namely Batangas, Cebu, Clark, Iloilo, Legaspi, Manila International Container Port (MICP), Ninoy Aquino International Airport and Manila failed to hit their respective collection goals.
For 2019, the BOC is targeting to collect P677 billion, 15.75 percent higher than last year’s goal of P584.88 billion.
Over the past months, various stakeholders have expressed concern over the slow release of containers from ports, and the long line of trucks outside the entrance of container yards, among others.
To address this issue, the BOC last March issued interim guidelines for the return of overstaying empty container in ports.
Meanwhile, the MICP said it has established an oversight committee tasked to fast track the disposal and reduction of oversta-ying containers in the port.
Furthermore, MICP is working with ICTSI to move overstaying containers at the yards to an inland depot to provide immediate relief to the yard.