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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Gatchalian: BOC modernization program should be assessed amid influx of smuggled items

Gatchalian: BOC modernization program should be assessed amid influx of smuggled items

Published Dec 11, 2022 10:57 am

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Sunday, December 11, sought an assessment of the Bureau of Customs’ (BOC) modernization program amid the influx of smuggled products in the country.

Recently, BOC agents have seized more than P63-million worth of frozen goods from Hong Kong and China.

Also last week, the government confiscated a cargo of 100,000 kilos of white onions that were undervalued and misdeclared as bread and pastries.

“Napansin natin na patuloy pa din ang pagpasok ng mga smuggled goods at kailangang matugunan ang problemang ito lalo na ngayong magpa-Pasko at dagsa ang mga mamimili (We have noticed that the entry of smuggled goods is still continuing and this problem needs to be addressed especially now that Christmas is coming and there are a lot of consumers),” Gatchalian said.

Gatchalian made the remark a day before the Senate Ways and Means Committee, along with officers and members of the Senate Tax Study and Research Office (STSRO), will hold an ocular inspection and walk-through of the modernization program of the agency in Port Area, Manila.

The senator said he believes that the agency’s ongoing modernization program would help stop smuggling incidences in the BOC.

“The BOC’s revenue collection performance would improve if the smuggling of various goods is effectively addressed,” said Gatchalian.

He noted that the BOC has set a revenue collection target of P671.66-billion for 2022. But based on the Department of Finance (DOF) data, the BOC collected half or about P320.5-billion at the end of May this year.

One major factor of the BOC’s modernization program is the transition from manual and paper-based system to a more modern system, procedures and upgrading of operational activities.

With its modernization program, the BOC aims make its customs administration at par with global standards and achieve full modernization by 2024.

Gatchalian said the BOC’s modernization program also involves the integration of the Ports of Manila, Cebu, and Davao and the Manila International Container Port (MICP) to the Customs Operations Center located in the bureau’s head office in Port Area, Manila.

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Sherwin Gatchalian Bureau of Customs (BoC) SMUGGLING modernization program
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