BIR awards supportive taxpayers

CEBU, Philippines - Fifteen individuals and companies including the Cebu City government were awarded by the Bureau of Internal Revenue yesterday for being the top supportive taxpayers.

During the Tax Campaign Kickoff for 2009 yesterday at the SM Conference Hall, BIR awarded the supportive taxpayers for continually supporting their programs and activities in the collection of taxes for the past years.

The awardees were commended for their role as models for the whole taxpaying community.

Aside from the Cebu City government, the awardees were Cebu Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce, Sunriser Manufacturing Corp., Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Aboitiz Power Corp., SM City Cebu, Carmen Copper Corp., CP Kelco, Bohol Quality Corp., AH Shoppers Mart Inc., Winner Motor Sales and BNC Realty Corp.

Also awarded were Oscar Chua, Mariano Ong and Leopold Bekoy.

The awardees also signed a pledge of support to the mission and visions of BIR and counting themselves in tax collection for nation building. 

Meanwhile, BIR regional director Rodita Galanto said that they will still be meeting with the Central office as to the target collection for the year 2009.

Galanto said that they are looking for ways to improve the collections for this year since the global recession has affected sectors that pay large taxes.

In the first months in the year 2007, Galanto said that P17 million was collected in the region but in the same months in 2008, only P15 million was collected.

“We were short P2 million last year but we will find ways to get it back,” said Galanto.

Galanto also said the national target for 2008 was P845 billion but this was not reached. 

According to Galanto, one way to do this is to concentrate their efforts on major industries in Cebu that are considered top grossers in terms of revenue like the manufacturing, hotel and real estate businesses.

Another way is through the Oplan Kandado which Galanto said as one way of BIR to make sure that businesses are registered and monitored.

In this program, those who will fail to register, issue receipts, issue file returns and not declare 30 percent of their income will be advised for closure.

Galanto stated that the public may get angry at them but they are just doing their jobs.

“Mubalik raman na nato tanan atong gibayad na tax,” he said. -AJ de la Torre/BRP (THE FREEMAN)