The Bureau of Customs (BOC) recorded P80.744 billion in revenue collections in January, surpassing its target by P513 million, officials said.
Aside from strong revenue performance, the BOC reported successful operations against large-scale and high-value smuggling activities nationwide.
Collections for January 2026 translated to a 100.6 percent revenue collection efficiency, marking a P1.490 billion increase, or 1.9 percent growth, from the P79.254 billion collected in January 2025.
Customs Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno said the results reflect the combined efforts of Customs personnel and stakeholders committed to compliance and reform, in line with the administration’s push for economic stability and public safety.
“Exceeding our January target is a strong affirmation of the hard work of our Customs personnel and the growing cooperation of the trade community. We are committed to sustaining this level of efficiency to support the President’s economic agenda and to exhibit the BOC’s ability of delivering reliable public service,” Nepomuceno said.
While the revenue performance sets a positive tone for the year, Nepomuceno emphasized that revenue gains are reinforced by firm, consistent and continuous enforcement activities.
Throughout January 2026, the BOC conducted sustained enforcement operations that resulted in 66 successful apprehensions, with an estimated P886.8 million worth of seized contraband and smuggled goods. These operations targeted illicit activities that threaten public safety, fair trade and government revenues.
The largest seizures involved dangerous drugs valued at more than P309 million, intercepted through intelligence-driven operations. Among these was the confiscation of illicit drugs worth P114.566 million concealed in a shipment declared as malachite stones.
Authorities also seized illicit cigarettes and tobacco products worth more than P209 million, highlighted by the 28 January raid of an illegal cigarette manufacturing facility in Pampanga, where locally produced cigarettes were found to have been made using smuggled machinery and raw materials.
Customs enforcement units further confiscated vehicles and vessels valued at around P143 million, along with electronics worth over P221 million, including undeclared mobile phones valued at P1.68 million seized at the Port of Cebu.
Other enforcement actions covered unlawfully imported agricultural products, wildlife and natural resources, food items and other regulated goods that pose risks to consumers, local industries and fair competition.
“We remain fully committed to protecting our borders while recognizing the dedication of our intelligence and enforcement units, as well as other partner agencies such as the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Philippine National Police (PNP), and Highway Patrol Group (HPG). Our enforcement is primarily focused on sustained and intelligence-led action that protects communities, supports legitimate trade, and strengthens public trust in Customs,” Nepomuceno said.