USAID turns over training center in Baguio for BIR

BAGUIO, Philippines — The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has commissioned a fully furnished training center in this mountain resort city for revenue officers of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) in Northern Luzon area. Acting USAID Controller Aneda Ward turned over the training center to BIR Commissioner Lilian Hefti in simple ceremonies Friday afternoon. It is intended to train BIR personnel in Northern Luzon on the Integrated Tax System, the automated system used by BIR in its operation. The donation consists of 40 top of-the-line desktop computers, 48 computer tables, 41 swivel chairs, four printers, 3 LCD projectors, a sound system and three air conditioning units. Commissioner Hefti explained that the training center in Baguio is one of four funded by a US$21 million grant from USAID. The Cebu center was inaugurated on June 27, 2007. The on in Tagum in Davao del Norte will be inaugurated by the end of this year and the Metro Manila center will be refurbished very soon. Hefti assured that updating taxation processes through Information Technology will eventually increase collection as well as improve processes and facilitate the resolution of tax evasion cases. The BIR chief is optimistic that BIR's tax collection target will be attained this year and the computerization of processes will increase collection efficiency. While no definite collection efficiency can be expected with the implementation of IT sustem, Hefti said the rate could range from 10-20 percent and “even more than that." Local BIR Regional Chief of Assessment Douglas Rufino, however, clarified that the effect of computerization and Internet use in tax collection will not be immediate. He said that the training center can only accommodate around 40 each for from the Cordillera, Cagayan Valley and Ilocos regions. Aneda Ward of USAID emphasized the need for developing countries to upgrade their management systems and the IT development grant is a concrete manifestation of support in enhancing sound policies and good governance as critical to poverty reduction and economic growth in developing countries. Ward said USAID through the Millenium Challenge Account (MCA), a US government-owned corporation expects that the training center will provide quality training to empower revenue officers, streamline processes, enhance tax collection and uncover and solve tax evasion cases. USAID is the United States federal government organization responsible for most non-military foreign aid. One of its programs in the Philippines is to reduce corruption and improving revenue compliance and enforcement through the MCA-Philippine Threshold Plan, Technical Assistance Project (MCA-PTP TAP. At least US$20.6 million was granted under this project administered by USAID until September 2008. - GMANews.TV