Customs chief tragets influence peddlers
Manila, Philippines – Customs Commissioner Angelito Alvarez promised to look into the country’s port operations and issued a stern warning against name-droppers and influence peddlers at the waterfront.
The commissioner said he will investigate operations at the Manila International Container Port to find out why it has failed to meet its collection target despite 12 out of the 17 ports under the agency’s supervision were able to post collection surpluses.
He said the MICP collected only P27.62 billion for the first half of the year as against target of P28.06 billion. Alvarez said the MICP was one of only five ports that failed to meet its quota.
Aside from the stern warnings that the Commissioner gave, he also lauded Customs officials at the ports of Manila, Batangas and the Ninoy Aquino International Airport for helping the agency surpass its P111.07-billion target by P7.34 billion after collecting P118.41 billion from January 1 to June 16.
