REVENUE COLLECTION. Lawyer Geniefelle Lagmay, Bureau of Customs Subport Dumaguete collector, on Friday (Aug. 4, 2023) says they have exceeded their target revenue collections for the first two quarters of this year. Records showed that the subport earned close to PHP 3.9 billion for the period versus its target of PHP 3.7 billion. (Photo by Judy Flores Partlow)
DUMAGUETE CITY – The Bureau of Customs (BOC) Subport of Dumaguete has exceeded its revenue collection for the first two quarters of this year and is already more than 50 percent of its 2023 annual target.
Port collector Geniefelle Lagmay told the Philippine News Agency on Friday that from Jan. 1 to June 30 this year, their total collections reached close to PHP3.9 billion, almost 1 percent higher than the semester’s total target of PHP3.7 billion.
The revenue collection is already way more than half of the subport’s target collection for this year, pegged at a little over PHP7 billion, but Lagmay said the target could still be raised.
Lagmay said they are confident that it will reach or surpass this year’s target despite some hitches from its main source of revenue which is Filoil Energy Co., Inc.
The petroleum importer has consistently been the biggest contributor, pouring in some 80 to 90 percent of the subport’s revenues but this year, it announced a reduction in its importation volume owing to vessel maintenance, he said.
Lagmay said to address this setback and to find ways to expand the subport’s revenue generation, he is pushing for containerized overseas shipments at the city port here.
He noted that if this would prosper, businesses would enjoy lower shipping costs while consumers will also benefit from reduced prices of goods.
A stakeholders’ summit on containerization was held on Wednesday at the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) building at the city port and was attended by Dumaguete Mayor Felipe Antonio Remollo, local government leaders, businessmen, importers, exporters, and other stakeholders.
“Through this containerized shipment initiative, there will be more imported commodities directly entering Negros, bypassing bigger ports like Cebu or Manila, which will eliminate double cargo handling while benefiting both the industry and the consuming public,” Lagmay said.
He noted that containerization is an important step towards “trade efficiency” and “overall economic growth”.
In the absence of containerized shipment, businesses here have to import their goods via other bigger ports in the country before transporting them to the province.
This will not only benefit Negros Oriental but also neighboring Negros Occidental and Siquijor provinces, he pointed out.
RCL Shipping Lines presented during the summit the benefits of containerization and announced it is interested in penetrating the Dumaguete/Negros market. (PNA)
