BIR’s Parayno lauded for meeting target

Los Angeles (via PLDT) — President Arroyo expressed confidence that the Philippine government’s problem with its swelling budgetary deficit will be eased somewhat by the increased tax collection posted by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).

The significant increase in the BIR’s tax collection came about "as a result" of her administration’s anti-graft campaign as well as the systems improvement instituted by its new commissioner, Guillermo Parayno, since he took over the government’s chief tax collecting agency last month.

"After one month in office, (Parayno) has been able to meet his revenue targets, collecting one-third more than the same period last year, reversing many months of low revenues which had caused our budget deficit to swell," the President said.

She commended Parayno for this feat as she digressed from her prepared speech before the Filipino-American community who welcomed her at the Westin Hotel during a three-hour stop-over visit here before flying to Los Cabos, Mexico to attend the 10th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Leaders’ Summit.

Mrs. Arroyo added that Parayno "is confident that he will meet his targets for the rest of the year and even make up for some of the shortfall in the earlier part of the year."

The President appointed Parayno following the resignation of former BIR commissioner Rene Banes, who complained about the efforts of certain BIR insiders to "sabotage" his reforms to remove graft-prone areas in the functions and services of the BIR.

Mrs. Arroyo told the Filipino-American community here that her administration is determined to carry out its continuing campaign against graft and corruption as part of her "good governance" policy when she first assumed office in January last year.