The Bureau of Customs has recognized the collection district of Ninoy Aquino International Airport for the good performance it made during the first half of the year despite the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero commended the Port of NAIA for its P18.5 billion contribution in duties and taxes for the first six months, surpassing its P18.485 billion midyear collection goal by P71.557 million.
For the month of June, NAIA surpassed its P2.81 billion collection target by more than P224.8 million after collecting P3.037 billion.
In going after anti-social goods, Customs NAIA agents seized P45 million worth of smuggled drugs—ecstasy, ketamine, kush, liquid marijuana, and shabu—and other prohibited substances from January to June.
Customs airport operatives intercepted more than P3 million worth of ketamine smuggled from Malaysia and arrested its claimant in a controlled delivery scheme.
The port also intercepted shipments of smuggled wildlife species such as poisonous spiders, tarantulas, and snakes, and marine animals.
In support of the government’s vaccination program, Customs NAIA helped in facilitating the process and immediate release of COVID-19 vaccine shipments since February.
The port cleared 34 shipments of vaccines in 24 batches, consisting of 17.25 million doses of the lifesaving jabs. The time-sensitive vaccines were pre-cleared by the Customs NAIA One Stop Shop prior to its arrival resulting in a speedy and systematic importation process and without any unnecessary delays.
Port of NAIA bagged the Gold award in the bureau’s Group and Collection District Compliance Revalida, and the Gold recognition from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources for its contribution against illegal wildlife trafficking.
It also received recognition from Anti-Red Tape Authority director Jeremiah Belgica on its Ease of Doing Business efforts initiatives, and from Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) Testing Czar secretary Vince Dizon for the expeditious facilitation and the flawless port management of the COVID-19 vaccine importations halfway through 2021.
“The Port of NAIA is supporting all these reform initiatives of Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero and will remain committed proactive in accomplishing its vital role in addressing the global pandemic, while consistently fulfilling its mandates of improving collection of lawful revenues, enhancing trade facilitation, and strengthening border protection,” said district collector Carmelita Talusan.