BOC overshoots April target by P10 billion!

THE reforms and programs being undertaken by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) under Comm. Rey Leonardo Guerrero, continue to bring hefty benefits and proved unaffected by the “noise” of the election campaign season after it surpassed its assigned target for April by more than P10 billion, the second consecutive month of double-digit surplus collection by the agency.

Atty. Vincent Maronilla, BOC spokesperson and assistant commissioner, said actual cash collection for April reached P65. 7 billion against its target of P54.9 billion for a positive variance of 19.6 percent equivalent to P10.769 billion.

He noted that in March, the BOC registered its highest monthly surplus collection at P13.037 billion, after generating P70.727 billion in revenue from that month’s assigned target of P57. 69 billion.

This collection also enabled the BOC to generate P188.506 billion for the government in the first quarter of the year, equivalent to 27.8 percent of its 2022 collection target of P679.226 billion, the official added.

Based on the preliminary report from the BOC-Financial Service, 14 out of the BOC’s 17 collection districts hit their respective targets for April, namely, the Ports of Subic, San Fernando, Port of Manila, MICP, Batangas, Legaspi, Iloilo, Cebu, Cagayan de Oro, Zamboanga, Davao, Clark, Aparri, and Limay.

Even during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Maronilla noted that the reforms initiated by Guerrero were implemented just in time that enabled the BOC to overshoot its assigned targets by 6.23 percent and 4.35 percent in 2020 and 2021, respectively.

Meanwhile, Maronilla said they also welcome the decision of the Supreme Court in favor of the BOC over a forfeiture case dating back to 2012.

“This development is a testament to the BOC’s unwavering commitment to ensuring that the government’s best interest is protected,” Moronilla said.

The official was referring to the ‘Cheryl Ann’ case, an oil barge that docked more than a decade ago at the Port of Surigao and subsequently seized by the BOC for carrying prohibited used oil.

Maronilla said the Supreme Court upheld the decision of the Bureau of Customs and the affirmative resolution of the Department of Finance dated 20 December 2012 and 17 June 2013, respectively, to forfeit the “Cheryl Ann,” owned by Gold Mark Sea Carriers, Inc., in favor of the government for violation of customs laws.

In an 11-page decision, he added, the SC cited that the use of the barge, which contained a prohibited cargo of used oil, without the required importation permit to transport the illegal importation, warranted its forfeiture pursuant to Section 2530 of the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines (TCCP).

The barge was leased by the cargo owner and was used to transport the undocumented cargo from the Republic of Palau and actually entered a Philippine port (Port of Surigao), carrying the undeclared cargo.

The decision also established that the vessel owner, Gold Mark, failed to present other evidence to disprove its knowledge and participation in the unlawful importation of the cargo owner.

Maronilla said they are also thankful with the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) for assisting the BOC during the litigation.