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The Bureau of Customs Post-Clearance Audit Group has recognized the top contributors under its post-clearance audit program in 2024
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The annual awarding ceremony held on March 12 highlighted the commitment of select importers to customs compliance and PCAG’s Prior Disclosure Program throughout 2024
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BOC assistant commissioner and PCAG head Atty. Vincent Philip Maronilla thanked stakeholders for their continued support, which has enabled PCAG to achieve its highest collection in history in 2024
The Bureau of Customs (BOC) Post-Clearance Audit Group (PCAG) has recognized the top contributors under its post-clearance audit program in 2024.
The annual awarding ceremony held on March 12 highlighted the commitment of select importers to customs compliance and PCAG’s Prior Disclosure Program (PDP) throughout 2024, BOC said in a statement.
Recognized during the event for their contributions were Coca-Cola Beverages Inc.; Abbott Laboratories; Merck Sharp and Dohme (I.A.) LLC; Fendi Philippines Corp.; Santa Cruz Solar Energy Inc.; Hewlett Packard Philippines Corp.; Natures Renewable Energy Development Corp.; Biersdorf Philippines, Inc.; Colgate-Palmolive Philippines, Inc.; JT International (Philippines) Inc.; Golden Arches Development Corp.; Bayer Philippines Inc.; Unilever Philippines, Inc.; Nestle Philippines Inc.; and Mondelez Philippines Inc.
BOC assistant commissioner and PCAG head Atty. Vincent Philip Maronilla, in a message during the ceremony, highlighted the vital role of importers in strengthening BOC’s revenue collection, as well as their contributions to the nation as a whole.
He also expressed gratitude to stakeholders for their continued support, which has enabled PCAG to achieve its highest collection in history in 2024.
PCAG last year collected P2.710 billion from post-clearance audits and voluntary disclosures applications, short of its P3 billion target but 38.3% higher than the P1.959 billion earned in 2023.
For this year, Maronilla earlier told PortCalls the internal target is P3 billion to P3.5 billion.
Last year, PCAG focused on the power and agriculture sectors, as well as excisable items. This year, Maronilla said they will continue to focus on manufacturing and some by-products of the energy sector but will also look into other industries such as heavy machineries and e-commerce.
The function of the post-clearance audit, formerly called post-entry audit, was returned to BOC in 2016 from the Department of Finance, where the function had been transferred in 2014.
In 2018 PCAG started welcoming applications to Prior Disclosure Program (PDP) and in early 2019, began sending out audit notification letters (ANL) with the release of Customs Administrative Order (CAO) No. 01-2019, which implements BOC’s post-clearance audit function.
PDP, formerly called voluntary disclosure program, is based on international best customs practice that allows importers to voluntarily pay for discrepancies in duties and taxes of previous shipments before post-clearance audit. An ANL, meanwhile, informs a company that it will be subjected to post-clearance audit and details the audit procedure.
Under CAO 01-2019, within three years from the date of final payment of duties and taxes or from customs clearance, BOC may audit, inspect, verify, and investigate records pertaining to any goods declaration.
The declaration includes statements, declarations, documents, and electronically generated or machine- readable data.
Such audit intends to ascertain if the goods valuation is correct and determine if an importer is liable for duties, taxes, and other charges, including any fine or penalty.
