THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) in Cebu has collected a total of P15.768 billion in duties and taxes, surpassing its target of P15.605 billion for 2015, especially on importation of fuel, steel, rice and power plant machinery and supplies.
BOC-Cebu Collection Division Chief Conrado Abarintos said that all the ports–Port of Cebu under Deputy District Collector Lemuel Romero, Subport of Mactan under Acting Collector Gerry Campo and Subport of Dumaguete under Acting Collecting Fe Toring surpassed the target as of Dec. 16, 2015.
Abarintos said he optimistic that the collections as of Dec. 16 will increase at the end of this month with the remaining 11 working days.
BOC-Cebu District Collector Arnulfo J. Marcos thanked the importers, customs brokers and other port stakeholders for their cooperation in paying the correct duties and taxes.
Abarintos said the BOC Cebu collected P234.6 million from duties and taxes of rice importations by the private sector with permit issued by the National Food Authority (NFA).
Rice importations
He said the rice importations this year has a total value of P585 million and 40 percent of that or equivalent of P234.6 million is the duties and taxes.
The rice importers were Artemis Salt Corp., Arvin International Marketing Inc., Cebu Lite Trading Inc., Lebak sustainable Organic, Medalla Ricemill, Miguel Grecco Trading, New Hatchin Trading Corp., Pilmico Foods Corp., River Valley Distribution Inc., Samahang Gumagawa Tungong Tagumpay, Sen Hanson Trading, Villa Shipping Lines Inc. and Wilsar Lebak Marketing.
Abarintos said the biggest bulk of collection amounting to nearly P500 million came from the different power plants in Cebu and the rest of the Visayas.
The power generation firms are Sulu Electric Power and Light, Negros Island Solar Power Inc., Philpower Solar Energy Corp., Kepco SPC Power Corp., Steag State Power Inc., SPC Island Power Corp., Toledo Power Company, Palm Concepcion Power Corp., Elecsys Power (EPC) Corp., Minergy Power corp., San Carlos Sun Power Inc., Monte Solar Energy Inc. and Cepalco-Cagayan Electric Power and Light Co.
Of the P500 million collections, P184.7 million was paid by only four power generation firms, namely, Cepalco-Cagayan Electric Power and Light Co., Monte Solar Energy Inc., Negros Island Solar Power Inc., and San Carlos Solar Energy Inc.
Abarintos said the top importers of oil is Seaoil in Cebu and Filoil in Dumaguete City. For steel, Steel Asia is the top importer.