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SWEDEN
has donated P100 million to the Philippine government to
help it improve its revenue collection program and its
campaign against tax cheats.
Malacañang said in a press statement that Swedish
Ambassador to the Philippines Annika Markovic disclosed
her government’s donation during her farewell call on
President Arroyo that day.
Markovic
told the President that she had signed, on behalf of her
government, a “new trust fund” with the Department of
Finance (DoF) and the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR)
for the development of a statistics-gathering program,
including tax mapping, that would be useful in weeding
out tax evaders in the Philippines.
She said
the P100-million trust fund will help further strengthen
the “many good tax laws” and revenue collection programs
of the Philippine government.
Mrs.
Arroyo thanked
Sweden,
saying the P100-million donation would help improve
revenue collection and consequently, the second phase of
her administration’s economic reform program that calls
for heavy investments in human and physical
infrastructure.
The
Swedish envoy also told Mrs. Arroyo that Sweden is
closely watching peace efforts in the Southern
Philippines, and stressed that the “negative perception
in Europe” about the Philippines being “a dangerous
place” will change drastically once a sustainable
Mindanao peace accord is in place.
She said
a sustainable peace agreement between the government and
the MILF will boost the “fantastic” performance of the
Philippine economy.
The
President conferred on Markovic the Order of Sikatuna
with the rank of Datu (Grand Cross) for her exemplary
work as a representative of her country in the
Philippines.
Markovic
later gifted the President with a picture of the
majestic Philippine eagle with its wings spread wide
open.
She said
the picture, taken by her husband, Darasko, represented
the Philippines “flexing its muscles” for its “maiden
flight to greatness.”
Markovic
was accompanied by her husband and Swedish Counsellor
and Deputy Head of Mission, Britt Hartig.
*****
Palace mum on Buñag’s fate
MALACAÑANG
Palace
said on Monday that President Arroyo is satisfied with
the performance of her Cabinet officials, but remained
mum on the fate of Bureau of Internal Revenue chief Jose
Mario Buñag, who is reportedly on the way out.
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita told reporters that
the Chief Executive, who had said earlier she will make
changes in her official family after the elections, has
not expressed any dissatisfaction with members of her
Cabinet.
Asked if
the President is satisfied with the performance of her
Cabinet officials, Ermita said:
“Yes.
She has not told me that she is not satisfied.”
Asked
about the possible replacement of Buñag, Ermita said
that while he might have “heard” about it, he has not
discussed the matter with the Chief Executive.
“There
is nothing final on it. . . . We have not discussed it.
Never,” he said.
Rumors
about Buñag’s replacement were fueled by the issuance of
Executive Order 625 amending EO 175 issued by President
Estrada, to improve tax collection and help the BIR meet
its revenue target.
EO 175
creates the Office of the Deputy Commissioner for Audit,
Fraud and Investigation under newly appointed deputy
commissioner Cesar Lim, formerly the South Makati
revenue district officer.
EO 175
puts Lim in charge of the BIR’s Run After Tax Evaders
(RATE) program, prioritizing large taxpayers and revenue
districts.
In the
first two months of the year, the BIR Large Taxpayers’
Service (BIR-LTS), whose functions have been transferred
to Lim’s office, collected only P20 billion, leading to
a P10.3-billion shortfall for the BIR.
Ermita
also said that other rumors about a Cabinet revamp have
been sparked by vacancies in the Cabinet because of the
resignation of some officials to run in the May 14
elections, among them the positions of presidential
chief of staff and the chairman of the Philippine
International Trading Corp.
Joey
Salceda, the former presidential chief of staff and
presidential economic adviser, won as Albay governor
while former PITC chairman Roberto Pagdanganan lost his
bid for Bulacan governor.
The
President said earlier that she is in no hurry to
appoint a new National Treasurer to replace Omar Cruz,
and has authorized Finance Undersecretary Roberto Tan to
hold the position in an acting capacity.
“The air
is ripe for all those rumor about changes . . . But the
matter of changing the Cabinet is with the President.
She will be the only one to determine that,” Ermita
said. |
