Customs officials in charge of revenue collection are unlikely to resign from their respective posts following the resignation of outgoing Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Commissioner Sixto Esquivas IV even as majority of the ports nationwide were reportedly off target in their revenue collection in recent months.

Customs Commissioner Napoleon Morales stood his ground not to vacate his post, saying that the large revenue collection shortfall right now is “a case beyond my control” since both the volume and value of imports are down.

“To reach the yearend target is already improbable at this point. But what we can do and will do is maximize collections and ensure that there are no leaks in revenue,” Morales said in an interview.

Talking about the collection shortfall, he admitted that there has been a slump in the importation of oil, steel, and other petroleum products this year compared in 2008.

But he said they are still P5.7 billion efficient, based on the report of the Department of Finance (DoF).

“The importation of crude oil against the program is lower by 40 percent of the revenue impact or losses amounting to P9.5 billion … So you can’t blame anybody because what’s going on at this time is a global crisis,” he said.

Asked if he will resign like Esquivas, Morales said he will not, unless ordered to do so by President Arroyo herself.

“I have a job to do and I will do my best until the President tells me otherwise, at which time I will graciously hand over the reigns to my successor,” Morales said.

For the nine-month period (January to September 2009), the Bureau of Customs (BoC) only collected P13.44 billion from crude, or just half of its collection last year. Taxes from petroleum products were at P26.87 billion, which is 2 percent more than the tax collected in 2008.

Thus, the total shortfall of the BoC from January to September this year is P36 billion. It still has to collect P64.72 billion from October to December, based on its programmed revenue target. Total BoC cash collections for the nine-month period amounted to P165.39 billion as against the target of P201.42 billion.

The oil importation accounts for 70 percent of the BoC’s collection while the non-oil items makes up the 30 percent of the agency’s collection.