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GENERAL SANTOS CITY: The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) officially
launched on Friday the Nationwide Rollout of Computerize System (NRCS)
in Central Mindanao in a bid to improve tax collection in the
region, put tax evasion in control, provide better service to
taxpayers and meet the targeted annual tax collection pegged at
about P845 billion this year.
Department of Finance Undersecretary Estela
Sales said the NRCS, which aims to complete the computerization of
BIR operations in the country, is now completely operational for the
cities and provinces of Cotabato, Kidapawan, Sultan Kudarat, General
Santos and South Cotabato.
Sales said the program has provided the local
region some P3.6 million for 30 computers, 15 printers, 30
filing cabinets, 30 computer tables and chairs including the
procurement of other related equipments and training of BIR
personnel through the support of the Millennium Challenge
Account-Philippines Threshold Program Technical Assistance Project
(MCA-PTP TAP).
“The NRCS is expected to assist the Philippine
government improve its revenue administration and fight
corruption,” Sales said.
Jim Freer, MCA-PTP TAP senior advisor, said the
project was designed to strengthen the three main areas in the
Department of Finance namely, the Revenue Integrity Protection
Service; the BIR’s Run After Tax Evaders Program and the
Custom’s Run After the Smugglers Program.
BIR local revenue district officer Noel Gonzales
said the computerization program was finalized during the regional
change management seminar workshop held last March at East Asia
Royal Hotel here.
Gonzales stressed the computerization program
automates the registration, collection, returns processing and
taxpayer accounting processes in the bureau.
“In this way, it enables the BIR to better
respond to taxpayer requests and reduce transaction time for them.
It also makes the operations of the local district more efficient
and effective and enable the tax office, establish a more
comprehensive data bank and compare data across in different data
clusters.
Supported by a $20.6 million grant from the
Millennium Challenge Corporation, a US government corporation that
supports development programs and projects over the World, the grant
is administered by the US Agency for International Development.
-- Isagani P. Palma
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