THE Bureau of Customs (BoC) said collections exceeded the agency’s target in February after a majority of its ports exceeded their revenue goals.

In a statement sent to reporters, the BoC said it collected P43.674 billion, beating the February collection target of P41.709 billion.

The February total was up 41.5% from the same period last year.

“Majority or 14 out of the 17 ports of the Bureau of Customs exceeded their collection target for the month,” Customs Commissioner Isidro S. Lapeña was quoted as saying in the statement.

Among the major ports that beat their targets were the Manila International Container Port (MICP), Port of Manila as well as the Port of Batangas.

MICP, the country’s biggest port, collected P13.438 billion, exceeding its target by 4.49%.

The Port of Manila collected P6.529, exceeding its goal by 4.1%.

The Port of Batangas, meanwhile, posted P9.982 billion in revenue, beating its target by 3.4%.

Eleven other ports exceeded their February collection targets by the percentage indicated as follows:

• Port of Limay (collections P2.544 billion, 0.2% over target)

• Port of Cebu (P2.084 billion, 10.9%)

• Port of Davao (P2.067 billion, 54.4%)

• Port of Cagayan de Oro (P1.668 billion, 41.6%)

• Port of Subic (P1.509 billion, 0.5%)

• Port of Iloilo (P373 million, 65%)

• Port of San Fernando (P293 million, 28%)

• Port of Clark (P142 million, 29.1%)

• Port of Tacloban (P81 million, 346.6%)

• Port of Legaspi (P53 million, 166.9%)

• Port of Aparri (P27 million, 579%)

Mr. Lapeña said that the collection performance was “mainly because of the intensive campaign against corruption and smuggling,” and directed bureau officials to ensure that duties and taxes go straight to the Treasury.

Asked about the target performance of three other customs stations — the Port of Surigao, Port of Zamboanga and Ninoy Aquino International Airport — the bureau said only: “The figures provided are based on the preliminary report submitted by the Financial Service.”

Mr. Lapeña did not respond to a BusinessWorld query about the continued employment of officials that issued their collection targets.

In February, Mr. Lapeña said he will relieve district officers that fail to hit the monthly revenue targets.

“Since I have just assigned some new collectors this January, we will base the relief on their February collection performance,” he said earlier. — Karl Angelo N. Vidal

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