BIR vows to surpass P675-billion tax collection target

Efforts to sustain the country’s economic growth received a major boost following the pledge made by key officials of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to work overtime to surpass the P675-billion tax collection target for the year.

Officers and members of the Association of Chief Revenue Officers of the Philippines (ACROPHIL) led by Esterio Tambis made the promise to President Arroyo during their induction at Malacañang.

Tambis and ACROPHIL vice president Bobby Mailig said they could reach, or even surpass, the target collection since they are mainly responsible for revenue collections.

President Arroyo expressed confidence of the renewed vigor showed by the BIR officials in intensifying their efforts to surpass their target last year.

She added a better revenue collection and an intensified campaign against tax cheats are the best means to support her administration’s social and economic programs without resorting to implementing new tax measures.

Mrs. Arroyo also praised the BIR officials for exceeding their collection goal for the month of August.

She expressed confidence that the BIR would duplicate their feat for the remaining months of the year.

"I urge all of you to work harder and add more fund to the government coffers in order to sustain the country’s economic growth," Mrs. Arroyo told the newly inducted ACROPHIL officers.

ACROPHIL is an organization of revenue collecting officials from revenue district officers (RDOs), audit division chiefs to group supervisors.

Tambis was sworn in as ACROPHIL president with Mailig as vice president.

Also sworn in by the President were Myrna Leonilda (RDO), as vice president for Luzon; Wilma Elivera (RDO) as vice president for Visayas; Emir Abutazil (RDO) as vice president for Mindanao.

Clavelina Nacer was sworn in as treasurer with Manuel Mapoy as Public Relations Officer.