BOC surpasses 2023 collection target

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) ended the year 2023 on a strong note as it surpassed its revenue goal.

In a news release on Tuesday, the Department of Finance (DOF), the parent agency of BOC, said the Customs collected a total of P883.624 billion from January to December last year, exceeding its collection target of P874.166 billion.

Year-on-year, the bureau’s revenues grew 2.46% from P862.419 billion in 2022.

The BOC’s sale of forfeited goods conducted through public auctions from January to December 31, 2023 generated P164.503 million in revenues.

The bureau, moreover, so far digitalized 161 out of 166 customs processes, garnering a 96.99% digitalization rate.

As of December 31, 2023, the DOF said a total of 90 criminal cases have been filed by the BOC before the Department of Justice (DOJ), 60 of which are related to agricultural smuggling.

Among these, 56 pertain to large-scale smuggling, which violates the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act.

Other cases filed with the DOJ are on the unlawful importation of fuel (13 cases), food items (four cases), illegal drugs (4 cases), general merchandise (four cases), cigarettes (one case), used clothing (one case), others (three cases).

In 2023, the DOF said the BOC also recorded four convictions on cases related to unlawful importation of general merchandise, cigarettes, and agricultural products.

From January to December 31, 2023, the Finance Department said the BOC’s anti-smuggling efforts resulted in the confiscation of P43.295 billion worth of smuggled commodities.

As part of the BOC’s monitoring efforts and post-evaluation of importers and brokers, the DOF said the bureau revoked the accreditation of 118 importers and 46 customs brokers found to be in violation of the provisions stipulated in the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act from January to December 31, 2023.

“I commend the BOC for its outstanding performance in 2023. In 2024, expect the Bureau to continue modernizing its customs administration and processes to effectively curb illicit trade, generate more revenues to fund the government’s priority development projects, ensure the protection of our consumers, and enhance the country’s ease of doing business,” said Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno. —Ted Cordero/ VAL, GMA Integrated News