• Bureau of Customs-Port of Legazpi hits record P1-billion collection from January to August 7
• The port says its biggest income comes from the collection of fuel import duties, which began in May
• Commodities such as rice, coal, cement, and pyrite cinder also contributed to port revenue
The Bureau of Customs (BOC)-Port of Legazpi collected a record P1 billion, its first billion mark, for the period January to August 7, 2023.
In May 2023, the port received its first-ever fuel importation, which has since become its biggest source of revenue.
The shipment arrived aboard MV Peninsula XI at Pasacao port, Camarines Sur. The vessel was carrying 5.076 million liters of gasoil consigned to Jetti Petroleum Inc.
Customs Memorandum Order No. 04-2023, dated March 7 and signed by Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio on March 13, amended CMO 43-2019 and added the ports of Legazpi, Aparri, San Fernando (La Union), and Zamboanga to the list of authorized ports of discharge for gasoline, diesel, and kerosene arriving in bulk.
The importation of other commodities like rice, coal, cement, and pyrite cinder also contributed to Legazpi port’s revenue growth.
The port’s total revenue collection is P1,010,695,196.25 as of August 7.
In a statement, the port recognized its transformation into a growing regional economic hub due to the new strategic policies under Customs commissioner Bienvenido Rubio.
BOC-Legazpi thanked the customs chief for the “5-Point Priority Program” and agency reforms that led to its record revenue collection.
The five priority programs are: (1) digitalization of Customs processes; (2) hitting and surpassing revenue targets; (3) simplification of procedures and facilitate secure trade; (4) curbing smuggling in all forms; and (5) uplifting employee welfare and development.
Earlier, BOC-Legazpi hosted a forum on containerized shipments with Regional Container Lines (RCL) to encourage container lines to call the region.
At the forum, Marlon Isah De Guzman, general manager of Eagle Express and agent of RCL South Philippines, explained how RCL works and how it connects ports with a farm-to-market set-up via sea.
He said a direct RCL vessel call in Bicol can directly bring shipments to a global hub port connected to 600 ports in over 120 countries.
