LEGAZPI CITY - The Bureau of Customs Bicol acting district collector, said the total cash collection last year was 1,775 percent higher than the P12 million target.

Turingan said that the BoC district office here, which has been in the top five position for the past three years, has topped the Bureau of Customs district offices nationwide in collections for 2002.

The achievement was accomplished despite the lack of manpower and the temporary closure of its offices in Virac, Catanduanes, and Masbate City.

The BoC in Bicol has an existing sub-port in Jose Panganiban town, Camarines Norte, a coastal unit in Naga City, and the merged Legazpi-Tabaco ports.

Turingan said the high cash collection was boosted by the partial payment of the National Food Authority (NFA) for its rice importations last year amounting to P148 million from a total collectible of P303 million.

The main functions of the BoC is to generate revenues for the government as well as suppression of smuggling in its areas of operation.

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