00:00After having rehabbed its image for quite some time, the Bureau of Customs is back in the spotlight and in the crosshairs of the Department of Budget and Management for all the wrong reasons.
00:10As one of the bureaucracy's worst performers last year in its disbursement and utilization of its annual allocation, reports are rife anew of corruption in the agency.
00:19Plus, its online app that computes duties and taxes of imported goods needs a big fix, as our Harley Valbuena reports.
00:30The Bureau of Customs, or BOC, is in the midst of fixing its online tax calculator, whose functions were temporarily suspended after actress Bella Padilla complained about the alleged overcharging of tax on her imported shipment.
00:47According to Padilla, her shipment with a value of Php 11,000 was charged a tax of Php 4,600 instead of Php 1,650 based on the tax calculator of the BOC.
01:02Customs Commissioner Ariel Nepomuseno explained,
01:05Certain items were not computed by the online tax calculator, even as it struggles with its language features.
01:14This also does not indicate fees from third-party couriers and shippers.
01:19The customs chief therefore admits that deficiencies in the calculating app will cause confusion on the public.
01:26The BOC is upgrading its online tax calculator with the latest version and is scheduled for relaunch next week.
01:34Dapat maging mas user-friendly.
01:38Ibig sabihin, yung itsura, yung pindutin dyan, ay maging mas madali pa o na paapon upang maingganyo sila na kanditin para kayaan.
01:46Meanwhile, after getting an unsatisfactory rating in the 2024 agency performance review of the Department of Budget and Management,
01:56the BOC vows to improve their services through full automation of their system to regain public trust.
02:03It also insists, having had no lapses in tax collection, noting they were able to surpass target collection last July.
02:11The customs chief also confirmed receiving reports from ports outside Metro Manila on some individuals posing as BOC officials to extort money in exchange for discounts on large shipments.
02:26Nepomuseno said the extorted amount ranges from 5 to 10 million pesos.
02:31The BOC chief warned that he himself will lead operations against unscrupulous individuals who, he assured, will face cases and imprisonment.
02:43Kapag yan, may interrupt namin ako mismo sa tama upang mapusasan po natin yung ganyang practice.
02:49Dahil ang kapilin-bilin na po sa atin, yung Pangulong Bongbong Marcos ay good governance.
02:53The BOC also reminds the public not to give in to any solicitation scheme and to just pay the appropriate taxes on their shipments.
03:04Harley Valbena from the National TV Network for a new and better Philippines.
