[EDITOR’S NOTE: In the original article, we mentioned that the P106 billion collection was made in January only. However, it should be noted that this amount was collected from January 1 to February 15, 2024. We apologize for the error.]
MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Customs (BOC) collected P106 billion from January 1 to February 15 this year, BOC Deputy Commissioner Michael Fermin reported on Saturday.
“For this year, since we just started, we collected P106 billion. That is still ahead of the target, so we’re on the right track,” Fermin said during the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City.
“We have been efficiently collecting revenues, especially with the higher target this year set by the DBCC [Development Budget Coordination Committee],” Fermin added, referring to the inter-agency body under the National Economic and Development Authority assigned to set the government’s macroeconomic assumptions.
Meanwhile, for 2023, the BOC official said that they have collected P883.62 billion.
This amount is P9.45 billion higher than the commission’s target collection of P874 billion for last year.
According to Fermin, the BOC also recorded a total of 980 successful seizure operations with a total monetary value of P43.3 billion.
“Half of it or more than 50 percent are counterfeit goods — these are fake bags, shoes, and other items; and followed by illegal drugs by P7 billion; and then, agricultural products and other general merchandise,” Fermin said.
“We also filed, for last year alone, we have filed 90 criminal cases before the Department of Justice, and 60 [of] which are agricultural smuggling. This year, we have filed another 13 cases as the Department of Justice,” he added.
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