Collections of both the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and the Bureau of Customs (BOC) went up in June this year, Finance Secretary Ralph Recto said.

In a recent informal press chat, Recto said that based on preliminary data, the BIR collected a total of PHP200.52 billion, up from the PHP170.03 billion collection in the same month last year.

“I think, so far the BIR is doing a good job, they’re growing roughly by 14 percent,” he said.

Recto said the higher collection was mainly driven by value added tax, excise tax, and corporate income tax.

The BOC’s collection, meanwhile, also went up to PHP77 billion from PHP74.6 billion in June 2024.

Recto said he recently met with top officials of the BOC to discuss a catch up plan, noting that the agency would mostly likely miss its target collection goal for the year.

Recto, citing the BOC, said this was due to lower rice and electric vehicle tariff collection.

“We met with the entire BOC on Monday (July 14) for a catch-up plan with some of the collectors from Luzon. But all the deputy commissioners were there, and the new BOC commissioner,” he said.

“So they made a presentation, catch up plan. I am satisfied of their catch-up plan to a certain degree. It will be PHP50 billion more than the first quarter, first half of the year,” he added.

In a separate social media post, the Department of Finance said BOC Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno committed to implementing the 5-Point Priority Program for 2025.

This includes digitalizing customs processes, surpassing the collection target, simplifying procedures and facilitating secure trade, curbing all forms of smuggling, and promoting employee development.

Recto encouraged the new leadership to fast track customs initiatives to increase collection efficiency. (PNA)