MAP to help gov’t boost tax take

MANILA, Philippines - The Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) is working on a plan to assist the government improve tax collections by asking its members to transact only with suppliers that pay taxes.

MAP president Melito Salazar said assisting the Department of Finance (DOF) in its goal of improving tax collections is among the possible areas of cooperation they discussed in a meeting with Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima last month.

“In improving tax collections, MAP will encourage member companies to ensure their suppliers are good taxpayers,” he said.

He said MAP is also working with the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to identify software to be used to make small and medium enterprises tax compliant.

Apart from helping the DOF improve tax collections this year, the MAP is also planning to implement a professional development program with the department.

The program aims to have a pool of career civil servants with managerial and leadership skills by providing DOF employees opportunities for professional development such as study grants in universities offering courses in financial and fiscal policy-making, management and operation, and other training.

Salazar said both parties will be identifying where management development is needed and MAP will help source fellowships as required.

He said a memorandum of understanding on the areas of cooperation with the DOF is currently being prepared.

The parties are expected to sign the memorandum of understanding by the end of the month and to start work on the plans thereafter.

Salazar said the MAP is working with government agencies to help improve the working environment for businesses.

“The MAP would like to be a dynamic partner of government, business and civil society in achieving good governance, global competitiveness and inclusive growth for a vibrant economy that can meet the challenges of a fast changing world,” he said.

MAP groups chief executive officers, chief operating officers and other top management practitioners from the largest and local multinational companies in the country, as well as top management educators.