Speaker: Impose ‘one-strike policy’ in BIR, Customs

MANILA, Philippines — Speaker Martin Romualdez is urging President Marcos to impose a one-strike policy against “non-performing” government officials of graft-ridden agencies, particularly the Bureaus of Customs (BOC) and of Internal Revenue (BIR).

Romualdez, a first cousin of the President, said booting out incompetent officials of the two bureaus under the Department of Finance “is a key step toward achieving our revenue goals.”

“I will recommend to President Marcos a one-strike policy against collectors who will miss their target revenues,” he said, noting that the President must be more stringent in cracking the whip on them.

Romualdez said this would help ensure additional funds for targeted subsidies, hospitalization, education, job creation, and other social protection programs for the most vulnerable sectors of society.

“We need more funds for financial assistance to our poorest of the poor, like free hospitalization, education, transportation and job creation through infrastructure projects that will help the programs of the government,” he said.

In pursuit of the same end, he said the House of Representatives will also exercise its oversight function to monitor the performance of various departments and agencies in the implementation of policies and programs under their respective mandates.

“Let us help the government meet its revenue targets. I hope our call will send a clear message for our collectors to perform at the highest level,” the Speaker said.

“Taxes are the lifeblood of government in the implementation of pro-poor programs designed to alleviate poverty and reduce inequality. It is of vital importance in the government’s effort to provide access to better education, healthcare, and social protection programs,” he added.

The Speaker noted that the inability of concerned collectors to meet their revenue goals has been compromising the government’s budget for agriculture, health, education, infrastructure and other priorities.

Recto for walkways, bike paths

In a related development, Deputy Speaker Ralph Recto called on the national government to tap the P82-billion road users’ tax to construct elevated walkways and bike paths for the benefit of pedestrians.

Sidewalks and bike lanes have been “sidelined and waylaid” in the government’s infrastructure menu but these “active mobility” facilities should be mainstreamed, the Batangas congressman lamented.

Recto disclosed that the “unspent balance” of P82.2 billion as of end 2021 from the motor vehicle registration fees can “fund these pedestrian-centric pathways.”

Through an amendment of the law creating the Motor Vehicle Users Charge, the administration of collections has been transferred to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

Recto wants the DPWH to include pedestrian and bike ways as “a pillar” of its activities. “It is time to elevate wide pedestrian and bike lanes, whether ground-level or elevated, covered or not, to the league of major construction works,” he said.

At present, safe pathways for people biking or walking are being built by the Department of Transportation. “But I think DPWH should get into the act, because these projects fall under its mandate more than it does to DOTR,” Recto said.