Cagayan de Oro City (04/25/08) – Some Php2.475 billion have been collected by the Bureau of Customs, District 10, from the top 24 imported commodities that were brought in to Northern Mindanao, last year.

“Of this amount, Php2.008 billion was for payment of value added taxes (VAT) while Php452.289 million was for customs duties and Php8.643 million, for excise taxes,” Lawyer Abiden P. Macapasir, BOC-10 District Collector said.

First in the list of these import commodities was mineral products which generated for the government some Php961.372 million, followed by foodstuffs, Php347.366 million and petroleum gases, Php222.671 million.

Other products in the list and the amount collected By BOC-10 for their entry into the region are milk and cream, Php167.684 million, base metals and articles, Php136.290 million, chemicals, Php130.044 million and triticum wheat, Php107.757 million.

Oil products, Php86.068 million, flour, Php76.788 million, steel slabs, Php47.929 million, coffee cream, Php38.100 million, machine parts accessories, Php33.121 million, paper and paperboard articles, Php23.304 million and fertilizer, Php16.695 million.

Articles of stone or similar materials, Php15.647 million, motor vehicle parts, Php12.242 million, miscellaneous items, Php10.292 million, plastic and articles, thereof, Php10.174 million and footwear, Php10.076 million.

Forest products, Php8.3904 million, rubber & articles, thereof, Php4.737 million, articles of iron or steel, Php4.737 million, industrial starch, Php733,408 and textiles, Php106, 107.

As to volume, these commodities weighed 1,429,827,167 kgs., worth a total of Php16.330 billion, Macapasir also said. (Rutchie Cabahug-Aguhob, Philippine Information Agency 10)