By Junex Doronio
MANILA — With the announcement of newly-appointed Finance Secretary Ralph Recto that he would prioritize the collection of taxes for the country’s coffers, reshuffle rumors once again rocked the Bureau of Customs (BOC).
Customs insiders told Maharlika NuMedia that Recto should look into the hold-over appointees of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte holding top positions at the BOC.
They said the “Duterte appointees” should have resigned irrevocably out of delicadeza when the new administration of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. took over the reins of government.
‘Number one is to collect for next year, I think P4.3 trillion in taxes, P3 trillion with the BIR, P1 trillion with the BOC and I think the Treasury has P300 million, it’s all about fiscal sustainability,” Recto said at a Palace press briefing on Friday (12 January 2024).
Some Customs brokers, however, said the new Finance chief should also look into the “high duties and taxes” that tend to discourage importers.
”So every night, when I wake up in the morning, dapat ang nakolekta natin more or less P20 billion to fund all the needs of our people, the requirements of the government and to make sure that the money is spent wisely,” Recto quipped.
(el Amigo/MNM)
