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By Isagani P.
Palma, Correspondent
GENERAL SANTOS
CITY: Two Bureau of Internal Revenue district offices in Central
Mindanao expect a loss of some P250 million in revenue collection
this year after two big taxpayers, including Filipino boxing idol
Manny Pacquiao, have been ordered to pay their taxes to the BIR
offices in Manila.
Local
opposition leaders have expressed doubts the move was politically
motivated and aimed at crippling the tax collection efficiency of
the local government.
“Though the
move will not seriously affect the local government, but it is not
morally right for Pacquiao to settle his taxes in Manila. As a huge
taxpayer, he should reconsider the benefits that the local
constituents could avail if the local government increased its tax
collection,” said City Mayor Pedro Acharon Jr.
Acharon said
if local tax remittances increase, the internal revenue allotment
for local governments coming from the national government will also
increase and help augment funds intended for government programs
related to health, education, agriculture and infrastructure in the
locality.
Pacquiao, who
was recently cited among the big taxpayers in the country through
the recommendation of the BIR revenue district office of Pasig City,
has been obliged to pay his taxes from boxing and product
endorsements to BIR Manila.
Rodita Galanto,
the BIR regional director, said she is working for the reduction of
this year’s annual tax goal of P2.8 billion after Dole Philippines
Inc., a giant American fruit firm engaged in exporting pineapple
products, and Pacquiao were ordered to pay their revenues to Manila.
“It is
seemingly hard for us to attain the assigned tax goal but I am very
much hopeful that we could make it,” Galanto told The Manila
Times, following the publication of the transfer of the tax
remittances of Pacquiao and Dole Philippines.
She said
despite the absence of the two large taxpayers, the BIR regional
office has surpassed its tax goal with over P24 million, or 11.49
percent, for the month of January as compared to the tax collections
for the same month last year.
However, she
said the new directive in which local government agencies and
government offices were ordered to directly purchase office supplies
and equipment from the Department of Budget and Management would
also adversely affect revenue collection efficiency. Thus, tax
collections will be remitted and credited to BIR office in Metro
Manila, where the main office of DBM is located.
Myna Bernardo,
the revenue district officer of Koronadal City, said Dole
Philippines contributed P202 million, or 33 percent of the total tax
collection to the BIR last year. She said that her office had
requested for the realignment of its tax goal this year following
the withdrawal of Dole Philippines to pay its taxes to the local BIR
office.
Noel Gonzales,
the revenue district officer of General Santos City, said the
withdrawal of Pacquiao’s tax payment from the local BIR office
will not directly affect the bureau’s tax collections for it will
still be remitted to the BIR central office.
He also denied
speculations that politics had something to do with the withdrawal
of huge taxpayers’ remittances from the local BIR district
offices.
Gonzales said
Commissioner Jose Mario C. Buñag and other top bureau officials in
a bid to enhance efficiency in tax collection studied the new scheme
in tax remittances.
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