Dumaguete City Bureau of Customs collector, Medolita Cabanag, said, the agency collected P35,096,061 in the first quarter of 2014, compared to only P386,464 in the same period last year.

BOC records show that it collected P11,893,649 in January, compared to P377,565 in the same month last year; P11,322,098 in February from P5,060; and P11,880,314last month, against P3,839 in March 2013, Cabanag said.

She attributed the high collection to the importation of palm oil by the Dumaguete Coconut Mills and the Wilmar Edible Oil Philippines, and of the Pryce gas.

The palm oil importation was brought about by the super-typhoon that hit Tacloban and Samar areas and affected the coconut industry in the Eastern Visayas.

Cabanag, who will retire on July 31 after 26 years of service to the BOC, said that palm oil is distributed not only in the markets of Dumaguete and Negros Oriental but throughout the Visayan region, including the Yolanda-affected areas.*JG

back to top