THE Philippines can better fight tax evasion if it uses the P20-billion high-technology system being offered by Swiss firm Sicpa, but this cost is seen as being added to the taxes of alcohol and tobacco products, which manufacturers would only pass on to consumers—a notion that’s double-edged, as it could make for good health policy, while defeating the State’s purpose of shoring up revenue when tax collection declines just the same when consumption falls.

BDO Leasing and Finance Inc., a unit of Banco de Oro Unibank, said its nine-month net income dropped 33 percent to P185.5 million as expenses more than doubled, outpacing the increase in revenue.

Net income in the third quarter fell 29 percent to P67.9 million.

THE Bureau of Internal Revenue is eyeing revenues from estate taxes, which the agency admitted it has been lax to collect over the past decades.

BIR Acting Commissioner Joel Tan-Torres said his agency will soon be launching a project, called “Rest in Peace,” in a move to exact tax from the heirs of the deceased.