Customs make last push to reduce target shortfall

MANILA, Philippines – With only a few days left before a change in leadership in the agency, the Bureau of Customs makes a last-ditch effort to reduce its collection shortfall for the first half of the year.

The Manila ports – Port of Manila and Manila International Container Port (MICP) – plan to earn additional revenues through public auctions of forfeited imported goods.

Gerry Macatangay, chief of the MICP’s Auction and Cargo Disposal Division, said they will hold “one more” auction, which will be held on Tuesday, June 28.

The MICP would be selling 10,751 bags of refined sugar carried by 17 container vans. The brands include Cristalla/Korach/Mitr phol and Korach/Thai Roongruang, among others.

Just last week, the MICP generated P22.9 million from the auction of 17 lots consisting of mobile phones, plastic resin, used household goods, and compressors.

“Everything was sold except for the flexibags industrial grade RBD. There was a failed bidding (for that),” Macatangay said.

In the Port of Manila, meanwhile, 11 vans would be up for sale on June 27, consisting of refined sugar, wheat flour, rust-oleum, television sets, galvanized iron steel coils, microscope, feed ingredients-glutinous rice and plastic resin.

The MICP and POM are expected to raise a total of P37.9 million before Commissioner Alberto Lina steps down from office. – Rappler.com