By Zaldy Comanda
BAGUIO CITY – The Bureau of Internal Revenue-Cordillera surpassed its 2018 collection by collecting 5.34 percent more in 2019.
The region's 2019 collection was P1.2 billion more than the P5.2-billion 2018 collection, or a total of P6.4 billion collected in 2019.
BIR Cordillera's actual collection in 2018 was P5,210,003,168.00, and this ballooned to P6,437,149,712.10 in 2019.
The 2019 collection was also more than the year's target of P6,110,565,000.
The hike in collection was a result of the aggressive effort of the district revenue collectors in the whole region, said Regional Director Douglas Rufino
“We had a negative collection when I returned and I had to make an aggressive move to be able to surpass our 2018 collection and reach the year's goal. We are happy with the effort by the district collectors”.
Rufino returned to BIR Cordillera in September 2019, after he was assigned to Pampanga 2018.
In reaching his goal, Rufino said he took advantege of the peak tourism season, and talked to the tourism related establishments to update their tax collections.
“We know that tourism establishments like hotels and restaurants, whether big or small, they are earning during October to December.”
Rufino said there was no reason for establishments not to pay the correct taxes when they are earning so much.
Rufino cited as an example establishments which. pay P100 as tax during the rainy season which they tolerate but not during the peak season.
Rufino said they will scrutinize the books of small and big businesses, including individual taxpayers.
He expressed gratitude to business establishments which heeded the call to pay their taxes in 2019 allowing the region to collect more revenue for the government.