PBBM HEAPS PRAISE ON BOC ON ITS 123RD ANNIVERSARY
Despite failure to hit 2024 revenue goal
PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr., heaped praises on the Bureau of Customs (BOC) headed by Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio, on its 123rd anniversary despite failing to meet its revenue target last year, as the Chief Executive instead highlighted the agency’s other major accomplishments, especially in the areas of combatting smuggling, corruption, and its ongoing modernization.
“I shall be direct: Throughout its one hundred and twenty-three (123)-years history, the Bureau of Customs has never had an easy time.
“Various controversies and corruption allegations have eroded the public’s trust. But we are changing that.
“We will allow your accomplishments to speak the truth,” the President stated in his keynote address during the event last February 7, 2025, held at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City.
Last year, the BOC’s adjusted target was P939.6 billion, from the original target of P959 billion at the start of the year, which is 9.7 percent higher from that of 2023.
The final figure quoted by the President in his speech said the agency only generated P931.046 billion, for a shortfall of around P28 billion from the original target and some P8 billion less from the adjusted target.
The President, however, noted the final figure is P40 billion more from that of 2023, when the agency overshot its assigned target by P9.49 billion with actual revenue take of more than P883 billion. “These collections directly support national programs, including infrastructure, education, and essential public services,” the President said.
This year, the BOC is tasked to collect P1.06 trillion.
On modernization, the President commended the BOC’s digitalization efforts, noting its 96.99 percent digitization rate as of December 2024.
He noted the BOC’s automation of 161 out of its 166 processes, significantly reducing inefficiencies and curbing opportunities for corruption.
The success is also significant in comparison with the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), which according to an earlier observation by Department of Finance (DoF) Secretary Ralph Recto, currently stands at around 59 percent, with 16 out of 27 processes and systems digitized under the BIR’s ‘Digital Transformation’ (DX) Program’ (Pinoy Exposé, January 21, 2025).
It was in border security that involves combatting smuggling and in cracking down on erring personnel and stakeholders that the BOC compensated its revenue shortfall.
In 2024, the BOC, thru the Intelligence Group (IG) under Deputy Commissioner Juvymax Uy, with the assistance from the Enforcement Group (EG) under Deputy Commissioner Teddy Raval, chalked up P85.167 billion worth of confiscated smuggled goods and contrabands.
The accomplishment is nearly double the more than P43 billion in apprehended goods in 2023 and nearly four times compared to the seizures in 2022, when Pres. Marcos took office.
Thus far, the P85.167 billion confiscated goods and contraband last year is the highest in the agency’s history under any administration.
Additionally, the President also lauded the “accountability measures” implemented by Commissioner Rubio that resulted to the de-listing of 56 importers and customs brokers for involvement in smuggling.
The President also cited Rubio’s report that the agency has thus far secured 18 convictions from the 45 cases of smuggling complaints filed under his term.
“For the law to be fair, it must apply to all, especially to us public servants. The people have placed their trust in us, and they deserve nothing less than our utmost diligence, integrity, and accountability,” the President said.
The above is in compliance with the President’s directive to the agency during its 122nd anniversary last year to turn the agency into a “symbol of trust, honesty and efficiency” (Pinoy Exposé, February 22, 2024).
Part of the celebration that the President happily joined is the giving out of plaques of recognition and leadership awards to outstanding customs personnel and officials who have demonstrated exemplary service and dedication to the agency’s mission as spelled out by Comm. Rubio when he was appointed customs chief in February 2023, just right after the agency’s 121st anniversary.
Comments are closed.