Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 2) — The Bureau of Customs (BOC) exceeded its revenue collection target by over 7% in May on the back of tougher anti-smuggling measures that led to the seizure of billions of pesos worth of contraband.
The agency collected ₱77.79 billion last month, higher than its goal of ₱72.35 billion, and up by 17.36% from a year ago.May’s figure brings the BOC’s revenue collection in the first five months of 2023 to ₱359.17 billion.According to Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio, the bureau’s “intensified” anti-smuggling operations resulted in the seizure of illegal goods valued at more than ₱19 billion.These include agricultural products, diesel, and shabu, among others.Rubio also attributed the BOC’s stronger revenue collection to its digitalization shift, which is now at 96.39%, streamlining customs processes.
