THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) has surpassed its monthly collection target for the second straight month, with a surplus of more than P1.2 billion.
Deputy Commissioner Romeo Rosales on Tuesday said preliminary data indicate that 15 of 17 Customs collection districts across the country exceeded their monthly targets.
“These are just preliminary figures. We expect our collection surplus to increase further, after we receive all collection reports,” Rosales told The Manila Times in a Viber message.
Preliminary data show that the BOC collected P73.798 billion in February, surpassing its P72.592 billion target by approximately P1.206 billion, or about 1.7 percent. This represents a notable improvement compared to its February 2025 collection of P71.765 billion, reflecting a year-on-year increase of 2.8 percent, or P2.033 billion.
From January to February 2026, the BOC recorded total collections of P154.747 billion, representing a 2.5 percent increase or P3.729 billion, compared to the same period last year. The sustained growth underscores steady revenue gains early in the fiscal year.
The top five collection districts are the Manila International Container Port (MICP), leading all 16 other collection districts with P18,453,717,837.03; followed by the Port of Batangas, P17,634,956,080.51; Port of Manila (POM), P6,313,644,075.74; Port of Subic (PoS), P3,661,334,447.14; and NAIA, P3,482,258,066.68.
The other 10 that exceeded their targets are the Ports of Cebu, Aparri, Cagayan de Oro, Clark, Davao, Iloilo, Legaspi, Surigao, Tacloban and Zamboanga.
The non-performing districts are the Port of Limay and the Port of San Fernando. Limay was assigned to collect P9,798,004,554.17 but fell short by P2,129,589,147.30, while San Fernando collected only P550,006,379.08 from its assigned target of P698,495,885.19, or a shortfall of P148,489,506.11.
Customs Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno credited the BOC’s sustained revenue collection performance to continuous monitoring of the values and classifications of imported commodities to ensure accurate duty and tax collection.
He added that non-traditional sources, such as audits and public auctions, also boosted revenue collection, intensified border control, and improved trade facilitation, contributing to the consistent revenue efficiency.
“These efforts not only increase tax collection but also deter smuggling and illegal activities, leading to higher revenue collection,” he further said.
“The BOC remains steadfast in its commitment to enhancing revenue collection and contributing to the economic growth of the country. We are proud of this achievement and will continue to work tirelessly to maintain this positive momentum,” said Nepomuceno.
The BOC is the government’s second-highest revenue-generating agency, followed by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).
For 2026, the Department of Budget Coordinating Committee (DBCC) has assigned the BOC to collect P1.184 trillion, an increase of P1.2 billion from last year’s P1.064-trillion target, to help finance the P6.793-trillion 2026 national budget.
Nepomuceno expressed confidence in the bureau’s P1.184-trillion target through various institutional transformations centered on integrity in service, accountability in action, and modernization in governance with the help, support and cooperation of all bureau officials and personnel.
“Number one, we will have to modernize through digitalization. Number two, we will need policy interventions, and lastly, we need to reorganize — re-engineer our organization. That’s the only way. Believe me, after one year, BOC will be much better than what it is today, with your help,” the commissioner said, stressing that these reforms form part of the organization’s forward direction and long-term institutional legacy.
