The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) is holding a promotion examination for key field officers to eliminate the pernicious "palakasan" system.
BIR Commissioner Lilia Catris Guillermo issued an unnumbered optional competency-based examination for those aspiring for the much coveted revenue district officer (RDO) post.
Qualified to take the test are RDO officer-in- charge, assistant RDO, head of the regional assessment and investigation divisions and holders of attorney IV items.
Passers will be judged based on the knowledge of taxation, management skills and plans to improve revenue generations with focus on digitalization.
It is a common knowledge that some field officials were promoted and transferred to plum assignments due to influence exerted by powerful politicians and individuals, infamously called padrino or palakasan system.
Insiders said the RDO post which numbered 125 nationwide is one of the most sought jobs in the bureau as the are considered field commanders in the revenue raising efforts of the government.
The examination will be conducted at the BIR main office in Quezon City on Sept. 10, 2022.