BURS loses P1m to cigarette smuggling
Monday, January 26, 2015
In a recently released 2013 annual report, BURS decried that smuggling and non-declaration of goods has resulted in lost revenue, estimated at P947,916 from duties and taxes charged on cigarettes in the year.
In the period, BURS seized 167 master cases and 44 cartons of, among others, Remington Gold, Everest, Madison, Kingsgate and Servilles.
Whilst celebrating milestones in inclusivity, with notably P5 billion awarded to vulnerable groups, the report sounds a 'siren' on a dangerous and growing trend: the ballooning use of micro-procurement. That this method, designed for small-scale, efficient purchases, now accounts for a staggering 25% (P8 billion) of total procurement value is not a sign of agility, but a 'red flag'. The PPRA’s warning is unequivocal and must be...