BIR in Eastern Visayas surpasses 2010 collection goal; cites help of stakeholders

By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
January 21, 2011

TACLOBAN CITY  –  The Bureau of Internal Revenue in Eastern Visayas has surpassed its P3.9 billion collection target in 2010, having already collected P4.050 billion in taxes last year.

BIR Regional Director Alert Alocilja said that the 2010 collection exceeded the assigned goal by P78.602 or 1.98 %.

Director Alert Alocilja said that the 2010 revenue collection is higher by 24.72% compared to 2009’s P3.24 billion actual collection.

With this extra-ordinary achievement, Director Alocilja shared the accolades with his hardworking staff & personnel both in the regional and district offices.

He also extended his gratitude and commendation to all individual and business taxpayers, NGAs, NGOs, LGUs, PICPA, LCCI, other socio-civic organizations and tax practitioners in the Leyte-Samar Region, whose support and cooperation thru correct and prompt tax payments.

The good director also cited local media’s unwavering support in effective tax information dissemination that enable BIR Eastern Visayas to meet BIR National Office expectations as it valiantly continues its tradition of consistently surpassing its collection goal for nearly a decade now.

Once again, RR-14’s pilot district, Tacloban City’s Revenue District No. 88, emerged as top grosser with its overall collections of P1,771,589,369.79 that surpassed its P1,633,167,000.00 collection goal with a wide margin of P138,422,369.79, equivalent to 8.48%.

Similarly, all the other five Districts registered positive performance for 2010 by generating increased revenues over that of Tax Year 2009. Ormoc (Western Leyte) recorded total collection of P949.09 million, Catbalogan (Samar) with P487.45 million, Maasin (Southern Leyte) with P319.69 million, Catarman (Northern Samar) with P278.68 million, and Borongan (Eastern Samar) with P242.66 million.

All revenue field offices in the region registered an increase from the target ranging from 11.26% to 32.78%. About 60% of collection came from income taxes.

This accomplishment, Director Alocilja said, is attributed to voluntary compliance, which accounts to 97% of our regional performance last year. About 3% of the collection was achieved through enforcement of tax laws.

Director Alocilja also stressed that enforcement activities have contributed a lot in creating a voluntary compliance environment among taxpayers in the region last year.

Enforcement campaign like Oplan Kandado has an impact on voluntary compliance because of fear factor. If you keep on investigating delinquent payers, monitor them for violations, other payers become apprehensive in paying their taxes, Director Alocilja added.

For Oplan Kandado alone, the BIR regional office here has collected P15.83 million penalties that lead to closures of 24 establishments in the region last year.