DOF workshop marks launch of Philippines Tax Academy

MANILA, Philippines — The government will launch today the Philippine Tax Academy (PTA) by kicking off with an orientation workshop for 182 local treasurers and employees of the Department of Finance (DOF).

In a statement, Finance ?Undersecretary Gil Beltran said an inaugural workshop would be conducted at the newly established PTA to familiarize public officials with the revenue generation functions of the government.

Among the participants of the session are some 30 new hires from the DOF, 30 from the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), 31 from the Bureau of Customs (BOC), 39 from the Bureau of Local Government Finance (BLGF), and 52 local treasurers.

Beltran said the inaugural workshop would cover the DOF’s role in government resource mobilization, the importance of building the capacity of tax administrators in boosting collection efficiency, the country’s tax policies and administration, as well as the challenges and opportunities facing tax administrators.

Also included in the discussions is the Philippine Development Plan for 2017 to 2022 and the Ambisyon Natin 2040, Gender and Development, Public Service Ethics and Accountability, and Civil Service Commission rules and employee benefits.

According to Beltran, the Governance Commission for Government-Owned and Controlled Corporations has already approved 14 executive positions for the PTA – from the president down to the business development specialist.

He said the PTA has also applied for accreditation with the Professional Regulation Commission as a continuing professional development provider for certified public accountants.

A? technical working group for the PTA was also created to recommend programs, projects, and activities for this year.

The DOF’s Legal Group is also reviewing PTA’s implementing rules and regulations, Beltran said.

Meanwhile, the DOF, in partnership with the University of the Philippines School of Economics, is offering a public finance postgraduate scholarship program to “produce high quality graduates, and provide DOF its next generation of public finance managers,?” Beltran said.

He said eligible DOF employees could apply for the program, which would allow them to undertake Master in Economics or Master in Development Economics studies for four semesters of full time study leave with pay.

Screening, admission and processing will be from ?May to June 2018, while classes will start i?n August.