The Bureau of Customs has cited the revenue collection district of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport for its record breaking-achievement despite the challenges amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The Port of NAIA surpassed its P24.61 billion revenue target for the first eight months of this year (January to August) by more than P1.82 billion when it collected a total of P26.43 billion.
Last year, it collected a total of P38.9 billion in duties and taxes and was able to hit its targets since 2011.
Customs agents at the airport also seized a total of P253 million worth of smuggled drugs and other prohibited substances from January to September. The contrabands included ecstasy, ketamine, kush, liquid marijuana, and shabu.
Customs Commissioner Yogi Filemon Ruiz commended NAIA collector Carmelita Talusan and her men during the port’s 62nd anniversary with the theme “Soaring Towards A Digitized, Transparent and Excellent Public Service.”
The occasion highlighted the other accomplishments of NAIA port, which include the seizure of smuggled shipment of illegal drugs worth P1.6 billion in Cabanatuan City in October 2020, the biggest controlled delivery operation in the history of drug law enforcement in the country.
Ruiz also expressed his gratitude to Customs NAIA officials and personnel for facilitating the immediate release of more than 240.9 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines and PPEs (personal protective equipment).
“At this point, I would like to convey my thanks to you, Collector Mimel Talusan for your aggressive initiatives and relentless efforts which made it possible for us, Customs employees, and our families to receive the vaccines and boosters in the comfort of our premises. For the record, NAIA Customs is the first and only non-LGU (local government unit), non-health facility COVID-19 vaccination center. For that, we are very proud and thankful to BoC-NAIA,” said Ruiz.