A good first impression from the new Bureau of Customs (BOC) chief.

That's how Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co described the P16.6-billion revenue surplus recorded by the BOC for the first quarter of 2023.

"I congratulate the BOC and it's new leader Commissioner [Bienvenido] Rubio for exceeding its revenue target for the first three months of 2023. Needless to say, this is a good first impression from Rubio," Co said on Tuesday, April 4.

On Monday, it was reported that the BOC raked in a revenue surplus of P16.6 billion. This, after the agency collected a total of P213.619 billion for the period of January to March.

The BOC said this was 8.43 percent higher than its revenue target of P197.020 billion for the quarter.  Revenue collection for March 2023 alone was P80.133 billion, exceeding its target of P72.282 billion by P7.851 billion or 10.86 percent.

Rubio was installed as BOC chief only last February.

Co, chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations, further said that the BOC's strong performance under Rubio was "a portent of good things to come".

"These extra revenues will go a long way in funding the various programs of President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. As the chairman of the House appropriations panel, nothing is more reassuring than knowing that the programs and projects we are allocating money for can actually be funded," Co said.

He said this additional government revenue would ultimately be felt by Filipinos in the form of various social services and subsidies that the administration drawn up in order to cope with the lingering Covid-19 pandemic or continuing high rate of inflation.

"It is paramount for agencies like the BOC to deliver so that we can achieve the 8-Point Socioeconomic Agenda of the Marcos administration," the Bicolano said.

Co noted that this 8-Point Socioeconomic Agenda covers food security, improved transportation, affordable and clean energy, health care, education, social services, sound fiscal management, and bureaucratic efficiency.

"As congressmen who possess the power of the purse, these points will be on our minds once again when we craft the 2024 General Appropriations Act (GAA) or national budget," he said.