BOC just P12.8B short in meeting 2020 target

DESPITE 2020 being a truly challenging year for the country and its economy, the Bureau of Customs, under Comm. Rey Leonardo Guerrero, is on target to achieve, if not surpass, its 2020 collection target of P506.150 billion.

Assistant Commissioner ang bureau spokesman, Atty. Vincent ‘Jett’ Maronilla, citing data from the Financial Management Service, said that for the month of November, the agency again surpassed its collection target, actually collecting P44.691 billion, for a surplus collection of P2.4 billion, already the sixth consecutive month the bureau surpassed its assigned monthly target despite the lingering negative effect to the economy of the COVID-19 pandemic.

With the development, Maronilla said the bureau is now less than 3 percent, or about P12.8 billion, short in hitting its 2020 assigned target of P506.150 billion. The bureau’s January-to-date collection is now P493.324 billion, he added.

12 collection districts, out of the bureau’s 17 collection districts, contributed to last month’s impressive performance.

Leading the contributors is the Port of Batangas (surplus of P1.95 billion), followed by NAIA (surplus of P283 million) and, the Port of Manila (surplus of P245 million).

They were followed by, the Port of Davao (surplus of P141 million); Port of Subic (surplus of P135 million); Port of Cebu (surplus of P96 million); Port of Zamboanga (surplus of P71 million);

Port of Appari (surplus of P69 million); Port of Cagayan de Oro (surplus of P40 million); Port of Clark (surplus of P16 million); Port of Tacloban (surplus of P19 million); and, Port of Surigao (surplus of P5 million).

ISO Certification

Meanwhile, the continuing effort by Guerrero to make the BOC a truly world-class customs service gained further traction after the Customer Care Center (CCC) of the Port of Manila under Coll. Michael DC Vargas, was finally awarded its ‘ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System Certification’ after rigorous review of all the CCC’s systems and processes made by TUV-SUD Philippines, an internationally-recognized German company in the field of auditing and service provider.

The ISO 9001:2015 QMS Certification is the international standard that specifies requirements for a quality management system.

Organizations use the standard to demonstrate their ability to consistently provide products and services that meet customer and regulatory requirements.

Adherence to the ISO 9001:2015 QMS by all customs ports and offices is part of Guerrero’s ‘10-point Priority Programs’ for the agency to sustain its efforts in providing quality service to all stakeholders.

Guerrero and Vargas were on hand to welcome the officials of TUV-SUD Philippines during the simple recognition ceremony at the Commissioner’s Building held last December 4, 2020.

The POM-CCC has undergone and passed its first stage audit last October 22, 2020 and was recommended for ISO certification after passing its final audit last November 6, 2020.

Also expected to be ISO-certified soon is the sub-port of Dumaguete, which successfully hurdled its final external audit conducted by TUV-SUD last December 1, 2020.

The Subport of Dumaguete now holds the distinction of being the first subport of the BOC and third customs office to be granted this ISO certification.

“This milestone was made possible through the dedication of everyone in the Subport with the assistance of the District Port and the members of BOC Interim Internal Quality Management System Office (IIQMSO).

“We will not be resting on our laurels and will continue to undertake more initiatives to consistently improve the way we deliver our services to our stakeholders”, said Port Collector Fe Lluelyn G. Toring, who led the Subport’s application for ISO 9001:2015 Certification.