Can Customs still be transformed?

PERCEPTIONS

- ARIEL NEPOMUCENO

We need every peso that can be collected from all the taxable imports and exports that pass our ports. The total funds collected is the lifeblood of the government, the vital source of any nation's survival and progress. The more funds that our national treasury have, the stronger is the capacity of any administration to pursue development projects and maintain the basic operations of government.

On the other hand, less funds means lower chance to become progressive. And lower capability to support any meaningful initiative that can uplift the lives of our people. Therefore, collection efficiencies are paramount in order to get the maximum possible funds that is due to the government.

Leakages such as those lost to corruption, smuggling where illicit modus and techniques pave the way to cheat the government and mere lack of competence to protect the interest of our nation all contribute to the losses in the much-needed funds that we are supposed to use. Less funds also translates to resorting to availing ourselves of loans, both from international and local financial institutions, to remedy the funding gaps in our national budget. Being heavily indebted in relation to our Gross Domestic Product breeds other issues. Our national debts have ballooned to more than P17 trillion.