Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar

The lesson is the same that Jesus is telling us today. ‘Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar,’ so we should pay taxes to the government.

Paulo Flores·4 October 2026, 2:31 am·1 MIN READ

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What did Jesus do? He asked for a coin and pointed out that it carried the face and name of Caesar, the Roman Emperor.

The lesson is the same that Jesus is telling us today. “Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar,” meaning the coin belongs to the government that made it, so we should pay taxes to the Philippine government.

“And to God what belongs to God,” which is that we humans who bear the image of God belong to God and should pay homage to Him.

When Ariel F. Nepomuceno took the helm as Commissioner of the Bureau of Customs (BoC), he started implementing reforms at the agency, like conducting weekly monitoring of collections and facilitating legitimate trade and enforcement.

The BoC focuses on collection efficiency and has sustained its strong revenue performance, wherein the agency did not only hit its target collection for the first eight months of 2026 but even exceeded it.

According to Commissioner Nepomuceno, BoC collections have increased by seven percent, or P43.389 billion, over the P621.387 billion collected during the same period in 2025, reflecting continued growth in revenue generation and effective collection efforts nationwide.

Nepomuceno said his team at BoC will see to it that the surplus will be sustained by keeping collections above the revenue goal every month.

He said the Bureau’s continued positive performance shows the resilience and dedication of Customs personnel across the country amid challenges.

“This year’s performance reflects the commitment of our people to deliver, even in the face of challenges, to remain focused on their mission. The surplus we have attained is a result of their hard work and dedication, as well as the continued trust and cooperation of our partner industries and stakeholders,” he said.

He said that while monthly collection figures may be influenced by external factors, the BoC remains focused on sustaining strong revenue performance through improved compliance, accurate valuation and declaration, enhanced enforcement efforts and close collaboration with the trading community.

“I thank every member of the BoC, as well as our partner industries and stakeholders, for their trust, cooperation and continued support. This achievement is a success we all share,” he said.