Customs generates add’l P1.45 B from post audit

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has generated P1.45 billion in additional revenues following the implementation of post-clearance audit on imports and goods.

In a statement issued yesterday, Customs assistant commissioner Vincent Philip Maronilla said the BOC has collected P1.45 billion in revenues since the reconstitution of the BOC’s Post Clearance Audit Group (PCAG) six months ago.

Maronilla, who also heads the PCAG, said this has already exceeded the P950 million record collection of the former Post Entry Audit Group (PEAG) in 2007.

He said the PCAG aims to collect P2.5 billion more for the rest of 2019 to meet its P4 billion target.

The PCAG has been regrouped in line with Customs Administrative Order 01-2019, which required the conduct of post audit clearance on importers and brokers.

Under the CMO, the PCA covers the profiling or information analysis on importers, customs brokers and other stakeholders of the BOC, which includes data gathering and evaluation of import and export operations as a means to measure and improve compliance of stakeholders.

It is conducted after the release of the goods from Customs control to verify the accuracy and authenticity of declarations and other returns declared before the Bureau of Customs.

Maronilla said the PCA is aimed at increasing trade facilitation, encouraging voluntary disclosures and protecting government revenue through compliance audits of imported goods.

He said this would also provide the government with the funds needed to drive economic growth and fund the government’s social programs.

“While the BOC has continually increased its collection efficiency and has seen increasing revenue collection growth since the start of the Duterte administration, much revenue is still needed,” Maronilla said.

For 2019, the BOC is targeting to collect P677 billion, 14 percent higher than last year’s collection of P593.1 billion.

As of the end of June this year, the bureau has already collected P303 billion, up 8.45 percent from P279.4 billion a year ago.