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[av_heading heading=’ Rody seeks more workers, modern facilities at Customs ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY PRINCE GOLEZ
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MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte proposed hiring more “competent,” “ethical” and “knowledgeable” Bureau of Customs personnel next year, according to Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto.
In the President’s Budget Message, Duterte asked Congress to appropriate P4.2 billion for the recruitment of 3,000 workers and modernization of Customs facilities.
Duterte also sought a P3.6-billion “anti-smuggling fund” to enhance cybersecurity in all ports, and acquire speedboats, firearms and other tactical equipment for better revenue collection.
Of the 6,264 authorized permanent positions at the bureau, only 3,031 are filled, leaving 3,233 vacancies, said Recto.
“If [Customs] hires 1,000 and spends P1.4 billion for their salaries, but if in return they will be able to collect, say, just 10 percent, or P16.5 billion, of the taxes lost to smuggling, then it is a good return to investment,” he said.
Based on the Customs’ P637.1-billion collection target for 2018, the average per-personnel collection quota was P210 million, Recto said.
“So, kung iyong bagong empleyado na may sweldo na, sabihin na natin P500,000, but will be able to yield tens of millions of pesos in additional revenue, bakit hindi?” he said.
The Customs bureau is the Philippines’ second largest tax-collecting agency and makes 20 percent of the government’s total tax income.
“For 2017, [Customs] is tasked to collect P468 billion,” said Recto. “On a daily basis, that would be P1.28 billion. … It can be said that 20 percent of the total length of roads built, classrooms constructed, medicine bought, textbooks distributed, families given health insurance, will be financed by [Customs] collections.”/PN
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