BOC expresses optimism after breaching January target
More than ₱886 million smuggled goods, contrabands seized
THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) under Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno expressed optimism on meeting its collection target this year after registering a surplus collection of ₱513 million in the first month of the year.
Data from the bureaus’ Collection Service placed revenue take at ₱80.744 billion, which is also 1.9 percent or ₱1.490 billion higher than the ₱79.254 billion collected in January 2025.
“Exceeding our January target is a strong affirmation of the hard work of our Customs personnel and the growing cooperation of our stakeholders.
“We are committed to sustaining this level of efficiency to support the President’s economic agenda and to exhibit the BOC’s ability of delivering reliable public service,” Commissioner Nepomuceno said in a statement.
For 2026, the Cabinet-level Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) gave the BOC a collection target of ₱1.003 trillion (see Pinoy Exposé, February 2, 2026).
The month also showed the success of the BOC’s sustained enforcement operations nationwide, resulting in 66 successful apprehensions of smuggled goods and contrabands with a combined estimated value of ₱886.8 million.
The largest seizures involved dangerous drugs valued at over ₱ 309 million, including the confiscation of 16.848 kilos of illicit drugs worth ₱114.566 million last January 8 at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Africa.
An assortment of electronic goods seized reached ₱221 million in value while smuggled and illegally manufactured cigarettes totaled ₱209 million.
On the other hand, the BOC also reported the seizure of vessels and vehicles used in smuggling activities and for unlawful importation worth ₱143 million.
Other enforcement actions covered unlawfully imported agricultural products, wildlife and natural resources, food items, and other regulated goods,
“We remain fully committed to protecting our borders while recognizing the dedication of our intelligence and enforcement units as well as other partner agencies such as the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Philippine National Police (PNP), and Highway Patrol Group (HPG).
“Our enforcement is primarily focused on sustained and intelligence-led action that protects communities, supports legitimate trade, and strengthens public trust in Customs,” the Customs chief added.
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