Customs exec urges businesses to hike imports, exports
THE Bureau of Customs in Central Visayas (BOC-7)officials are hoping that the top exporters and importers in Cebu will increase their volume of imports and exports this year.
Lawyer Ronnie C. Silvestre, BOC district collector, told Cebu Daily News that an increase in volume in exports and imports could help the bureau meet its collection target of P365 billion nationwide.
Silvestre said the BOC-7 was proposing a P9.6-billion collection target for this year, which is an increase of P300 million from last year’s P9.3 billion target.
“I hope that our top ten exporters will increase their volume (exporation) this year. We are very serious on hitting our monthly target.” Silvestre added.
Silvestre said he was optimistic of achieving the bureau’s target with an assurance from Steel Asia Mfg. Corp. to have a 100 percent increase in their volume importation for 2012.
“This will be something which will be very big for us,” Silvestre said.
Bernadette F. Raymundo, Seaoil Phils. Inc. vice president for supply, quality control and product development, said the firm was anticipating a 30 percent volume of importation by 2013.
Seaoil Phils. Inc. is the top import and export firm that paid the highest customs duties and taxes in 2011.
Other measures that BOC are adopting to achieve their target is communication with stakeholders and more apprehensions against smugglers.
Silvestre said that the bureau had communicated with stakeholders and helped them understand how the bureau works.
“Our strategy is to always maintain communication with our stakeholders. We meet with their import and export managers and brokers,” Silvestre said.
He also said that Customs Commissioner Ruffy Biazon ordered for more apprehension on smuggled motor vehicles, warehousing, fake AFTA (ASEAN Free Trade Area) certificates, and fake invoicing.
Yesterday, the Customs officials awarded the top three import and export companies in Cebu, who paid a large amount of Customs duties and taxes.
Top officials of the Seaoil Phils. Inc., Carmen Copper Corp. and Tsuneishi Heavy Ind. (Cebu) Inc. received their plaques of appreciation yesterday at the BOC office in Pier 5, Cebu City.
In 2011, Seaoil Phils. Inc. paid P976,928,956; Carmen Copper Corp., $88,243,358.17; and Tsuneishi Heavy Ind. (Cebu) Inc., $640,529,825.21 in customs duties and taxes.
