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AFTER failing to meet revenue targets last year, employees of the
Bureau of Customs on Monday filed a petition before the Supreme
Court questioning the constitutionality of a law that penalizes
collection shortfalls.
In a petition, the Customs Employees Association
asked for a temporary restraining order, barring Finance Secretary
Margarito B. Teves, Customs Commissioner Napoleon Morales and Bureau
of Internal Revenue (BIR) Commissioner Lilian Hefti from
implementing the Attrition Law.
Aside from the Attrition Law, the group likewise
complained before the High Tribunal that compelling Customs and BIR
personnel to sign so-called Collection District Performance
Contracts represents intimidation and harassment.
Under the law, BIR and Customs officials who
fall short of their collection targets by at least 7.5 percent would
be dismissed from service, while over performers would be given a
collective incentive amounting to 15 percent of the excess
collection if the surplus is 30 percent or below, and 15 percent of
the first 30 percent plus 20 percent if they surpass collections by
30 percent.
Last year, Customs failed to meet its collection
target of P228 billion after generating only P210.6 billion in
revenues. Bureau officials blamed the P17.4-billion shortfall on the
appreciation of the peso against the dollar.
This year, the bureau is tasked to collect a
higher amount of P254.4 billion.
Despite raising the goal, the agency’s 17
collection districts however had expressed confidence that they will
attain their full-year goal.
-- Chino S. Leyco
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