Customs tops May target by nearly ₱2B

All but one port under the Bureau of Customs hit their respective revenue collection targets for the month of May, posting an overall R52.601-billion in revenue, the bureau announced Wednesday.

The total collection is almost R2 billion higher than its projected collection for May, the bureau said.

Preliminary data from the Customs– Financial Service showed that the bureau achieved 3.9 percent –or R1.973-billion – revenue surplus against its R50.628-billion target, with 16 of the 17 ports hitting their goals.

This is 32 percent – or R12.763-billion – higher compared to last year’s collection of R39.838-billion during the same period.

Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapena attributed the increasing revenue surplus of the bureau to the improved performance of the 16 district ports.

Data from the bureau showed the following:

Port of Batangas posted R14.454 billion revenue, up by 23.3 percent or R2.733 billion;

Port of Manila posted R8.083 billion revenue, up by 6.2 percent or R472 million;

Port of Limay posted R3.462 billion revenue, up by 12.4 percent or P381 million;

NAIA posted R3.155 billion revenue, up by 5.2 percent or R155 million;

Port of Cebu posted R2.395 billion revenue, up by 5 percent or R114 million;

Port of Davao posted R1.936 billion revenue, up by 19.2 percent or R311 million;

Port of Cagayan de Oro posted R1.866 billion revenue, up by 30.5 percent or R436 million;

Port of Subic posted R1.853 billion revenue, up by 1.7 percent or R31 million;

Port of Iloilo posted R323 million revenue, up by 17.8 percent or R49 million;

Port of San Fernando posted R298 million revenue, up by 7 percent or R21 million;

Port of Clark posted R173 million revenue, up by 30.3 percent or R40 million;

Port of Zamboanga posted R58 million revenue, up by 142.2 percent or R34 million;

Port of Tacloban posted R47 million revenue, up by 102.4 percent or R24 million;

Port of Legazpi posted R25 million revenue, up by 4 percent or R1 million;

Port of Aparri posted R16 million revenue, up by 213.6 percent or R11 million; and

Port of Surigao posted R2.2 million revenue, up by 7.7 percent or R200,000.

The Manila International Container Port (MICP), one of the major ports in the country, however, was unable to hit its revenue target of R15.611 billion, collecting only R14.199 billion.

In April, three district ports, including MICP, were not able to reach their collection target. Ninoy Aquino International Airport and Port of Legazpi also fell short with their collection targets.

Increased imports Lapeña said the improved revenue collection performance of the Bureau of Customs is also attributed to the increase in the volume of imports by 3.3 percent in May.

“The value of imports also grew by 17.8 percent. I will say this is because of the continuing application of correct valuation and tariff classification of goods,”he added.

Increase in foreign exchange and oil price, and growth in the importation of motor vehicles, crude oil, foodstuff, iron and steel, and petroleum products also contributed to the May collection, according to the Customs-Financial Service.