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Philippines’ tax expenditure transparency steadies in 2025

The Philippines remained at the 79th spot out of 116 countries in the 2025 update of the Global Tax Expenditures Transparency Index (GTETI), a project led by think tanks Council on Economic Policies and German Institute of Development and Sustainability. The country reached an overall GTETI score of 38.67 out of 100, below the global average score of 46.90. The index assesses the regularity, quality and scope of countries’ tax expenditures (TEs) reporting across five dimensions: public availability, institutional framework, methodology and scope, descriptive TE data, and TE assessment.

PHL stocks extend slide as peso hits record low

BW FILE PHOTO

By Alexandria Grace C. Magno

PHILIPPINE SHARES fell for a second session on Wednesday after the peso slid to a record low, weighing on investor sentiment.

The benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange index dropped 0.29% to 6,389.81, while the broader all-share index slipped 0.06% to 3,635.94.

Late selling pulled the market lower, with sentiment pressured by the peso’s weakness and higher global oil prices amid tensions in Iran, Philstocks Financial, Inc. Research Manager Japhet Louis O. Tantiangco said.

“The peso’s weakness also weighed on the bourse,” he said in a Viber message.

The local currency closed at P59.44 a dollar, down 9.9 centavos from its previous finish, according to Bankers Association of the Philippines data. This marked its weakest close on record, surpassing the P59.355 logged on Jan. 7.

Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort said the decline reflected mild profit-taking after recent gains, following the government’s decision to trim its infrastructure spending target.

The Department of Budget and Management lowered the infrastructure spending goal to 4.3% of gross domestic product this year from 5.1%, citing the need for more cautious disbursement after a corruption scandal weighed on spending and growth last year.

Acting Budget Secretary Rolando U. Toledo said the revised target translates to about P1.3 trillion.

Despite Wednesday’s dip, Mr. Ricafort said the index remains at its highest levels in more than five months, supported by gains since late December and continued foreign inflows.

Sectoral performance was mixed. Mining and oil stocks rose 1.81%, while holding firms gained 1.57% and industrials added 0.58%.

On the other hand, services fell 1.76%, while financials declined 1.2%.

JG Summit Holdings, Inc. led index gainers, climbing 4.8% to P26.20. China Banking Corp. was the worst performer, sliding 3.72% to P60.70.

Decliners beat advancers 97 to 95, with 71 stocks unchanged. Value turnover rose to P6.92 billion, with 1.86 billion shares traded, compared with P6.75 billion and 1.26 billion shares in the previous session.

Foreign investors remained net buyers, though inflows eased to P291.46 million from P506.15 million a day earlier.

Markets also tracked global developments, including softer US equities and higher oil prices, which added pressure on risk assets.

Analysts said the peso’s direction and policy signals from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas would remain key drivers in the near term.

DBM to review MUP pension reform

PHILIPPINE STAR/EDD GUMBAN

By Chloe Mari A. Hufana, Reporter

THE Philippine government is studying a proposal to revamp the pension system for military and uniformed personnel (MUP), the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said amid growing concerns over its sustainability.

Budget Acting Secretary Roland U. Toledo said the pension program remains under review, citing provisions under Executive Order No. 107 that mandate a study of retirement policies for MUP.

“I think [the MUP pension reform] needs to be studied again. The implications for the fiscal budget could be significant,” he told a Palace briefing in mixed English and Filipino.

“At the same time, Executive Order No. 107 has assigned a technical working group to look into it, focusing specifically on the pension requirements of our military and uniformed personnel.”

The Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) has earlier flagged the rapidly rising pension costs for MUP as a growing threat to the Philippines’ fiscal stability.

In its Fiscal Risks Statement for 2026, the interagency body said the non-contributory MUP pension system — fully funded by the national budget — could strain government finances and expose pensioners to risks in the event of economic or fiscal shocks.

The DBCC noted that unfunded liabilities have ballooned over the years due to the automatic indexation of MUP pension. This could further strain the budget in the absence of reforms such as mandating contributions for new entrants, capping salary adjustments, and finding sustainable funding sources.

Earlier proposals have included removing automatic indexation, requiring contributions, raising retirement age, and creating a separate fund for new personnel, but the committee stressed that any changes must consider long-term fiscal sustainability and political realities.

The reassessment comes despite a 2023 recommendation by the Department of Finance under then-Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno to pursue legislative reforms to address the ballooning cost of the non-contributory pension system.

Asked whether that proposal would serve as the basis for reforms under the Marcos administration, Mr. Toledo said another review is warranted to factor in developments since then.

“That was several years ago and there have been developments during this administration,” he said. “This is subject to study again, especially because the fiscal implications could be significant.”

Mr. Toledo noted that a total of P21.7 billion has been allocated for MUP this year under the budget, with P15.4 billion earmarked for active service and P6.3 billion set aside for pension obligations.

Concerns have intensified over the indexation provision, which automatically adjusts pensions in line with salary increases of those in active service.

“There will come a time when those pension requirements will continue to increase and may no longer be sustainable,” Mr. Toledo said, adding that this was why the review remains ongoing.

For now, the Budget chief said the government has set aside funds to meet existing obligations.

Armed Forces of the Philippines Deputy Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Rommel P. Roldan reassured retirees that any future reforms would not affect current pensioners or those nearing retirement.

He said previous reform efforts were designed to apply only to new entrants to the service.

John Paolo R. Rivera, a senior research fellow at the Philippine Institute for Development Studies, said in the short term an MUP pension reform could create transitional costs such as government top-ups, benefit harmonization or funding a shift to a new scheme.

“[This] may temporarily raise fiscal outlays and require careful sequencing. But these costs are typically front-loaded and manageable if reforms are phased,” he said via Viber.

Mr. Rivera added a well-crafted pension reform can reduce long-term budget pressures by curbing the growth of liabilities and freeing up funds for priority spending.

“Key trade-off is accepting short-term adjustment costs to secure durable fiscal savings and credibility over time,” he noted.

The MUP pension system, which is fully funded by the national government, has long been flagged by economic managers as a growing strain on public finances.

In December, Mr. Marcos ordered a review of the MUP pension system after granting pay and benefit hikes.

The review, ordered amid implementation of the recent pay hike, aims to assess sustainability and potential reforms to the non-contributory pension scheme.

Manila urged to protest China’s ‘harassment’ of PHL boats near Scarborough

A Philippine Coast Guard photo of the fishing boat allegedly harassed by Chinese vessels. — PCG

By Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio, Reporter

THE Philippine government should file a diplomatic protest against China after its maritime forces harassed Filipino fishermen near the disputed Scarborough Shoal on Monday, a civil society group said on Wednesday.

The coercive actions of Chinese navy and coast guard vessels within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone pose the biggest threat to the lives and livelihoods of Filipino fishermen, Rafaela David, a co-convener of South China Sea interest group Atin Ito, said.

“No amount of drama and propaganda can conceal the true nature of a foreign aggressor in our own seas,” she said in a statement. “China’s latest harassment of fishers who are simply trying to make an honest living is proof of this.”

Manila’s coast guard on Tuesday said a Philippine fishing vessel was harassed by China’s navy and coast guard near the contested Scarborough Shoal, where the Chinese ships blared loud sirens and approached it closely in an apparent attempt to block its route going there.

Scarborough, known as Panatag in the Philippines and Huangyan Dao in China, is claimed by both nations. Chinese vessels have maintained control of the feature since 2012 and have barred Filipino fishermen from access. The shoal is prized for its rich marine resources and strategic position near major shipping lanes.

“We urge the Department of Foreign Affairs to lodge a strong diplomatic protest over this latest incident,” said Ms. David.

“Instead of concocting drama and propaganda, the Chinese Embassy in Manila would do better to explain why China continues to harass Filipino fishers and intrude into waters that are indisputably ours,” she added.

In response, the Chinese Embassy in Manila affirmed its commitment to resolve disputes through dialogue.

“China is determined to defend its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests,” it said in a Viber message. “At the same time, China has always been committed to resolving the maritime territorial and delimitation disputes through negotiation and consultation.”

In a separate statement, Party-list Rep. Leila M. de Lima criticized the Chinese embassy for what she described as attempts to whitewash the incident and for blaming the Philippines for heightening tensions in the waterway.

“It might as well stop pretending to be a diplomatic mission and convert itself into just another Chinese troll farm,” she said.

She also said the Philippines has no overlapping maritime zones with China, noting the closest Chinese landmass is Hainan island, which lies about 900 kilometers from Palawan.

“The problem from the very start is China’s nine-dash line claim,” said Ms. De Lima. Manila is at odds with Beijing over the South China Sea, stemming from a 1940s dotted line map that claims almost the entirety of the waterway. A United Nations-backed arbitral tribunal ruled in 2016 that China’s claim is illegal.

The embassy rejected Ms. De Lima’s claims, saying that China has “never claimed” every feature within the South China Sea.

“The Chinese government has stated on many occasions that China has territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea,” it said in a statement, citing its claims over some contested features in the waterway.

“China has historic rights in the South China Sea,” it said.

Ms. De Lima said that China has also concealed its “history of aggression” in the disputed Spratly Islands and Scarborough Shoal in its claims of provocation from the Philippines.

“China has selective amnesia about its island-building in the Spratly Islands,” she said. “China now has seven military outposts in the area which are the largest among claimant countries.”

It has also built man-made islands featuring runways, hangars, radar systems and ports on numerous submerged features in the strategic waterway to strengthen its naval presence in the resource-rich waters.

The Chinese Embassy in Manila responded that it was the Philippines that had “repeatedly intruded” in the Spratlys, saying that it was Filipino personnel that had harassed Chinese fishers.

“Philippine armed personnel often use excessive force against Chinese fishermen in utter disregard of the safety of their lives,” it said.

Arrest warrant issued against Atong Ang over missing cockfighters

RELATIVES hold photos of some missing cockfighting aficionados (sabungeros) from Manila and Laguna, as they sought help from Malacañang, Jan. 31, 2022. — PHILIPPINE STAR/ MICHAEL VARCAS

By Erika Mae P. Sinaking

A LOCAL COURT on Wednesday issued multiple arrest warrants against businessman Charlie Tiu Hay Ang, also known as Atong Ang, and several others in connection with the disappearance of cockfighting enthusiasts, or sabungeros.

In an arrest warrant dated Jan. 13, the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Sta. Cruz, Laguna, Branch 26 ordered the arrest of Mr. Ang and at least 17 other respondents for kidnapping with homicide, an offense classified as non-bailable.

State prosecutors will immediately seek the issuance of a hold departure order to prevent the accused from leaving the country ensuring their appearance at trial, Justice spokesperson Raphael Niccolo L. Martinez told reporters.

“Any and all law enforcement agencies may serve the warrant depending on where the accused is located. As a matter of procedure, the warrant will be served at the last known address,” Mr. Martinez said.

Gabriel L. Villareal, Mr. Ang’s lawyer, said the Laguna court’s arrest order was a violation of his client’s right to due process and described it as “legally questionable,” saying it relied solely on alleged incomplete information from the Department of Justice (DoJ).

“Clearly, the court merely acted on the incomplete and one-sided information provided by the Department of Justice in its determination of probable cause, without having even seen the counter affidavits and exculpatory evidence of the respondents, including that of Mr. Ang,” Mr. Villareal said in a statement.

He added that his camp would exhaust all available legal remedies to challenge the arrest order.

Philippine National Police (PNP) Acting Chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio C. Nartatez, Jr. told a Palace briefing that 10 to 11 police personnel who are among the co-accused are currently under restrictive custody and are set to surrender to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).

“This is an implementation of warrant arrest, we have a procedure, and the PNP personnel, all PNP personnel involved are, of course, mandated to follow,” Mr. Nartatez said in mixed English and Filipino.

Asked whether the court issued a resolution detailing its finding of probable cause, Mr. Martinez said that judges typically no longer issue a separate resolution once an arrest warrant is issued.

“While the Rules of Court require the judge to independently determine probable cause based on the prosecutors’ resolution, the court ordinarily no longer releases a written resolution detailing its findings,” he said.

Last year, the DoJ found sufficient evidence to charge Mr. Ang and more than 20 others over the disappearance of sabungeros reported missing between 2021 and 2022.

“We can say that the judge agreed with the findings of the prosecutors,” Mr. Martinez said.

He noted that the standard required for the DoJ to file charges — “prima facie evidence with reasonable certainty of conviction” — is higher than the “probable cause” standard required of courts to issue arrest warrants.

According to prosecutors, the evidence on record establishes a strong case that could withstand judicial scrutiny against Mr. Ang and his co-respondents. Suspect-turned-witness Julie “Dondon” Patidongan earlier alleged that Mr. Ang and his associates, identified as members of the Pitmaster online cockfighting group, played a direct role in the incidents. The investigation began in September after reports surfaced that 34 cockfighting enthusiasts had gone missing.

In two additional orders, Presiding Judge Mary Jean Cajandab-Ong of the Laguna court issued arrest warrants against Mr. Ang and his fellow accused of kidnapping and serious illegal detention.

The judge also ordered arresting officers to use at least one body-worn camera and an alternative recording device under Supreme Court guidelines.

Mr. Martinez said the cases pending before the RTCs in Sta. Cruz and San Pablo, Laguna, as well as in Lipa City, Batangas, involve a total of 26 victims, including 10 counts of kidnapping with homicide and 16 counts of kidnapping with serious illegal detention.

Batangas and Iloilo ecozones to generate thousands of jobs in manufacturing, IT

Women work at the assembly line of an electronics factory in Malvar, Batangas, Aug. 10, 2018. — REUTERS

THE Philippines expects to generate thousands of new jobs in manufacturing and information technology (IT) after President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. approved new and expanded special economic zones (ecozones) in Batangas and Iloilo, bolstering efforts to push investments beyond Metro Manila.

Under two proclamations signed on Jan. 6, parcels of land in Tanauan City, Batangas, were added to the existing First Industrial Township-Special Economic Zone (FIT-SEZ), while a new IT park was established in Iloilo City, according to the Office of the Executive Secretary.

Executive Secretary Ralph G. Recto said the new ecozones align with the Marcos administration’s strategy to decentralize economic growth by bringing investment and employment opportunities to the provinces.

“The new ecozones reinforce the Marcos, Jr. administration’s push to spread investments beyond Metro Manila, bringing economic opportunities closer to Filipinos,” he said in a statement in Filipino.

“That means more jobs are waiting in Batangas, Iloilo, and the surrounding areas. The economy in the provinces will strengthen, and the improvement of our families’ livelihoods will continue,” he added.

The Batangas expansion, covered by Proclamation No. 1127, integrates land in the villages of Pagaspas and Trapiche into the FIT-SEZ, which currently hosts 14 Philippine Economic Zone Authority-registered firms employing more than 1,600 workers.

The enlarged zone is expected to attract about P1.5 billion in new manufacturing investments and create roughly 1,850 additional jobs.

In Iloilo, Proclamation No. 1128 designates land along Donato Pison Avenue in the Mandurriao district as the Atria Gardens IT Park Special Economic Zone.

The project is projected to draw P550 million in investments and generate about 2,200 jobs, reinforcing Iloilo’s growing role as a hub for information technology and business process services.

Special economic zones offer registered firms fiscal and non-fiscal incentives under the Special Economic Zone Act of 1995 and its amendments, subject to compliance with Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) rules.

The proclamations followed recommendations from the PEZA board. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana

AFP aids policymakers as defense modernization plan nears expiry

PHILIPPINE STAR/EDD GUMBAN

THE Philippine military said on Wednesday it is coordinating with the Defense department and lawmakers as its modernization framework nears expiry, adding it is reviewing the country’s security situation and will adjust its equipment wish list to bolster deterrence.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is giving “technical advice” to policymakers to ensure that the next military modernization plan remains responsive to national security concerns, its Deputy Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Rommel P. Roldan said.

“The armed forces is always ready with our proposals for any changes or improvements to the next modernization program,” he told a media briefing in mixed English and Filipino.

The Philippines is at the tail-end of its military modernization program called “Horizon,” which began in 2012 when tensions with China flared after a naval standoff at Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea. Manila has earmarked about $35 billion for military upgrades in the next decade.

The current plan, set to expire in 2027, has enabled the Philippines to acquire advanced warships and missile systems as part of efforts to counter China’s growing military presence in the region.

“At present, the review of the current modernization program is still ongoing to assess what has been implemented. From there, we will examine the security landscape and the changes that have taken place since the existing plan was drafted and approved,” said Mr. Roldan.

“We will revise the programs to determine what capabilities or new capabilities the armed forces need to develop in order to continue providing proper security for our people,” he added.

Meanwhile, Italian aerospace and defense firm Leonardo promoted its multirole fighter aircraft for the Philippines’ military modernization program, pitching the establishment of local maintenance facilities to service its Eurofighter Typhoon jets.

“The Philippines doesn’t just need an aircraft; it needs lasting capability,” Tommaso Pani, senior vice-president of marketing and sales at the aeronautics division of Leonardo, said in a Jan. 7 statement.

The Southeast Asian nation has been scouting for coveted multi-role combat jets as part of efforts to boost its inventory of air force planes, which mainly consist of turboprops. Manila is allotting as much as P400 billion for the purchase of 40 multi-role fighters, Defense Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro, Jr. told lawmakers in 2024.

Leonardo said it could supply two squadrons of Eurofighter Typhoon jets to the Philippines, backed by a domestic maintenance hub to sustain the aircraft.

“This includes partnerships with local companies across maintenance, repair, avionics and digital mission-data support, allowing the Philippine industry to progressively assume more complex responsibilities as national capabilities mature,” it said.

Filipino engineers would undergo training in Italy as part of a knowledge‑sharing initiative aimed at strengthening the sustainment capabilities of the European jets, it added.

“Modernization is not defined by a single platform,” Mr. Pani said. “Our commitment is to be a long-term partner in developing this entire ecosystem, enabling the country to gain high-performing capability alongside confidence, competencies, and independence.” — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

Razon files cyberlibel complaint against Barzaga

INTERNATIONAL Container Terminal Services, Inc. Chairman Enrique K. Razon, Jr. filed a cyberlibel complaint against Cavite Rep. Francisco A. Barzaga before the Makati City Prosecutor’s Office on Jan. 14.

INTERNATIONAL Container Terminal Services, Inc. Chairman Enrique K. Razon, Jr. has lodged a cyberlibel complaint against Cavite Rep. Francisco A. Barzaga, who accused the ports and casino tycoon of corruption and bribery in Congress.

In a complaint filed with the Makati City Prosecutor’s Office on Jan. 14, Mr. Razon alleged that Mr. Barzaga accused him of masterminding corruption in Congress.

Mr. Razon filed two counts of cyberlibel against Mr. Barzaga and is seeking civil damages of at least P100 million for moral damages and P10 million in exemplary damages, saying the accusations caused emotional distress and hurt his reputation.

Mr. Razon’s complaint stemmed from Mr. Barzaga’s social media accusing him of being the mastermind behind corruption and bribery.

He denied all the accusations and said that “all elements of cyber libel are present: the statements accused him of crimes such as corruption and bribery, they were published publicly through Facebook and amplified by news sites, they were maliciously made, and he was specifically named.”

The suspended lawmaker said he is prepared to face Mr. Razon in court, vowing to pursue his alleged bribery case through Congress and a formal case filing.

“I will be taking the Enrique Razon bribery case to court,” he said in a video statement published on his Facebook page. “I will be presenting the evidence of my claims in both Congress and in court.” — Ashley Erika O. Jose and Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

Leviste says penalties to solar firm linked to Cabral files

PIXABAY

BATANGAS Rep. Leandro Antonio L. Leviste said on Wednesday he would respond to allegations of violations involving the solar power and holding company he founded in the “proper forum,” linking allegations against him to the so-called Cabral files.

Mr. Leviste said he respects the power of authorities to investigate alleged violations concerning the ownership of his company Solar Para sa Bayan Corp., which received a congressional franchise to operate microgrids in remote areas of the country.

“Since September, I have been warned that cases would be filed against me if I release the ‘Cabral Files,’ and told to remain silent for my own good,” he said in a statement. “I respect government employees and will respond to their statements in the proper forum.”

Granted a congressional franchise in 2019, Republic Act No. 11357 requires Solar Para sa Bayan Corp. to notify Congress of any sale or transfer, with such transactions subject to congressional approval.

Mr. Leviste’s Solar Philippines Power Project Holdings, Inc. also faces P24 billion in fines for its alleged failure to deliver nearly 12,000 megawatts of renewable energy, according to the Energy department.

“The company I founded built the country’s largest renewable energy capacity and brought in the biggest foreign investment to the Philippines in 2025,” he said. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

Senate panel to tackle Cabral files

SENATOR Panfilo M. Lacson speaks to members of the media during a Kapihan sa Senado in Pasay City on Jan. 14. — PHILIPPINE STAR/RYAN BALDEMOR

THE SENATE Blue Ribbon Committee is set to tackle the so-called Cabral files, an alleged list of insertions and kickbacks, in its next hearing on anomalous flood control projects as it resumes next week, a senator said.

“On Monday, Jan. 19, we will resume the Blue Ribbon Committee hearings to further clarify some issues surrounding the flood control anomalies. Hence, we’d like to know more about the so-called Cabral Files,” Senator Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson, who heads the panel, told a news briefing.

The documents are alleged to be a ledger of budget insertions and infrastructure projects, as well as a purported list of kickbacks received by officials in government flood control and infrastructure projects, previously held by former Undersecretary Maria Catalina E. Cabral.

He added that the committee will issue a subpoena duces tecum to Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vivencio B. Dizon to provide the alleged documents.

“(This is with) the end in view of consolidating all the files, including but not limited to what the late Undersecretary Cabral left before she died, that are confirmed to be in the possession of the department, and which the Blue Ribbon Committee needs to further enhance our inquiry and investigation,” Mr. Lacson said.

The DPWH last month submitted over a decade’s worth of records from the office of the late undersecretary to the Office of the Ombudsman.

He added that the panel will also invite Batangas Rep. Leandro Antonio L. Leviste, who previously claimed that the files were handed to him by the late DPWH official before she died.

The senator also claimed that former Public Works Secretary Manuel M. Bonoan provided false grid coordinates to the Presidential Palace.

“I have reliable information that former DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan deliberately submitted to Malacañang incorrect grid coordinates of thousands of flood control projects all over the country,” Mr. Lacson said.

He added that this resulted in inaccurate data involving about 421 ghost projects and previously inspected flood control projects reported by the DPWH.

“They are now trying to rectify by comparing the records in their multi-year planning and scheduling, project and contract management application, and other related documents that remain intact and in the possession of the department,” he said.

The senator said the panel will issue a subpoena for Mr. Bonoan to compel to attend the Jan. 19 hearing. Should he fail to attend, he will be cited in contempt, Mr. Lacson said, adding an arrest warrant may be issued against Mr. Bonoan.

The former DPWH chief has been staying the United States since November. — Adrian H. Halili

P62-B smuggled goods seized in 2025

MEMBERS of the Bureau of Customs-Customs Intelligence Investigation Service inspect various counterfeit shirts, perfumes and other luxury goods at a warehouse in Las Piñas City. — PHILIPPINE STAR/MIGUEL DE GUZMAN

THE Bureau of Customs (BoC) said it seized a total of P61.71 billion worth of smuggled goods in 2025, as authorities tightened border security to curb illicit threats that erode revenue collections.

Preliminary data from the BoC showed that it confiscated P61.71-billion smuggled goods from 1,024 enforcement operations last year, it said in a statement on Wednesday.

These included P28.47 billion worth of general commodities, P17.72 billion in counterfeit goods, P5.63 billion in dangerous drugs, P4.80 billion in wildlife and natural resources, and P1.86 billion in tobacco products.

“From dismantling smuggling networks and enforcing strict integrity policies to ensuring the proper disposition of seized goods and strengthening the Fuel Marking Program, the Bureau of Customs remains firmly committed to transparent enforcement that protects government revenue, legitimate trade, and the welfare of the Filipino people,” BoC Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno said.

Customs also rolled out 85 seizure operations involving agricultural products, resulting in the confiscation of more than P622 million worth of smuggled agricultural goods. 

“These enforcement actions helped protect public health, maintain fair market conditions, and safeguard government revenue,” the BoC said.

Customs is tasked with meeting a higher revenue goal of P1.0138 trillion in 2026, after falling short of its P958.7-billion target in 2025.

The BoC also revoked or suspended the accreditation of 40 importers and 12 customs brokers found to have violated customs laws and regulations.

It also filed 64 criminal cases with the Department of Justice, including 31 cases involving agricultural smuggling.

The BoC said 10 involved violations of the Anti-Agri Smuggling Act and 21 of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act, noting its zero-tolerance policy against illicit trade and customs violations.

Under its Fuel Marking Program, Customs marked 21.1 billion liters of fuel last year and generated P247.12 billion in tax revenue.

“The program remains a key measure in detecting fuel smuggling, ensuring transparency in fuel distribution, and promoting fair competition in the oil industry,” it said. — Aubrey Rose A. Inosante

MIAA says NAIA passenger volume hit over 52 million

NINOY AQUINO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (NAIA) Terminal 3 — PHILIPPINE STAR/MIGUEL DE GUZMAN

PASSENGER volume at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) climbed to 52.2 million in 2025, jumping by 3.48% from 50.35 million in 2024 driven by a rise in domestic passenger volume in the period, according to the latest report of the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA).

For the period, MIAA said the majority of the passenger traffic for 2025 were domestic passenger volume at 27.56 million, rising by 17.98% from 23.36 million in 2024; while domestic passenger traffic logged a total of 27.56 million from the 26.99 million in 2024.

The number of flights for 2025 fell by 0.47% to 292,048 from the 293,433 flights in 2024. For the fourth quarter in 2025, MIAA said passenger volume at NAIA logged a total of 13.23 million, up by 2.72% from 12.88 million in 2024.

In January, New NAIA Infra Corp. (NNIC), the operator of NAIA, reported that passenger volume at the airport reached 52 million for 2025.

NNIC credited operational improvements introduced last year for the smooth handling of passengers. These include new biometric immigration gates, upgraded passenger processing systems, and enhanced terminal facilities. — Ashley Erika O. Jose

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