BoC to expand data-sharing efforts with other agencies

THE BUREAU of Customs (BoC) said it is hoping to implement a data-sharing system with other law enforcement agencies to aid antismuggling efforts.

In a statement from the Department of Finance (DoF), Customs Commissioner Isidro S. Lapeña recommended the establishment of a data sharing systems between the BoC and the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

“[The task force is] a joint undertaking. The signing of a Memorandum of Agreement is with the BIR also, and the Philippine Coast Guard, AFP and other law enforcement agencies that we will be needing assistance from,” Mr. Lapeña said.

He added that it hopes to harness the capabilities of the patrol vessels of the PCG to monitor smuggling activities.

“We will be assigning people who will be trained [by the PCG] until such time that they are capable of operating the vessels themselves,” he said.

Mr. Lapeña was referring to the patrol vessels that were acquired through loans from European banking institutions under the Philippine Port and Coast Guard Capability Development Project (PCG Vessels Project).

Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III requested last year that the vessels be transferred from the Department of Transportation to the BoC.

The BoC is in the process of signing a memorandum of agreement with the BIR on information sharing and coordination to help combat smuggling, amid the proliferation of counterfeit cigarettes.

Tax effort in the first quarter grew to 14.3% of gross domestic product from 13.4% a year earlier.

Both the BoC and the BIR are exceeding their collection targets as of mid-year, with the government attributing their performance to the enactment of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion law. —