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MANILA - The Bureau of Customs is seeking a lower budget for its operations next year, despite a higher revenue collection burden.
In a budget presentation in Congress, Commissioner Rufino Biazon proposed a P9.12 billion budget for 2013, or P317 million lower than this year's P9.44 billion allocation.
For next year, Customs is tasked to raise P397 million, or P50 billion higher than this year’s P347.07 billion target.
The P9.12 billion proposed budget already includes the P281 million for the Non-intrusive Container Inspection System Project and P36 million for the Super Green Lane Fund, which port users pay for.
Port users likewise pay for the maintenance of the bureau's other equipment, such as x-rays and computers, as well as for the Electronic-to-Mobile Project.
The budget proposal already covers some P6.3 billion in tax refund for the input value added tax on zero-rated transactions and some P232.47 million to redeem the issued tax credit certificates issued from 2004 to 2008.
The 2013 refund of the input VAT is also being charged against this year’s collection, thus leaving Customs with a P2.16 billion budget.
Operating expenditures for next year will reach P1.95 billion, down from this year’s P8.7 billion, while funding for capital outlay was placed at P211.82 million from last year’s P740.24 million.
“Most of the IT projects were affected. Understandably, capital outlays are one-time expenses,” Biazon said.
A Customs official, who was present during the presentation, said Biazon, like past commissioners appointed by President Benigno Aquino III, failed to take part in the crafting of its budget.
"The fast-turn over of commissioners has left the budget formulation to subordinates, who are under the control of the Department of Finance, which of course, prefer lower funding," the Customs official who declined to be identified said.
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