The Bureau of Internal Revenue’s (BIR) computerization program has played a major role in maximizing tax collections in the last few months, with a high of P40.9 billion in November last year.

In a television interview, Internal Revenue Commissioner Guillermo Parayno said that with Information Technology on board the BIR system, the bureau could easily determine tax evasion and under-declarations and do something about it.

Parayno cited the interlink and information matching between the BIR and the Bureau of Customs (BOC).

"The import database of the BOC is one major source of third-party information. The data generated by the Customs system is made available to the BIR. This way, we can actually see if a company is fully declaring its importation or making excess claims for importation for credit purposes," he said.

The linkage and reconciliation of information have strengthened the BIR’s capability to supervise taxpayers, he added.

Parayno said the BIR collected some P2 billion last November after pushing for the rigid implementation of the Voluntary Assessment and Abatement Program (VAAP) covering all tax types regardless of the year.

He projected an increase of 2.5 percent for VAAP availers who would voluntarily pay tax dues.

A 5-percent rise is expected from those getting BIR letter notices and required to pay certain amounts. "For the value-added tax (VAT), it is 3 percent for seller of goods and 6 percent for seller of services. For income tax, it is 2 percent based on undeclared sales found by our computers," he said.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today announced the appointment of Agrarian Reform Secretary Hernani Braganza as the new Press Secretary.

In a press briefing in Malacaņang, Press Secretary and concurrent Presidential Spokesperson Ignacio R. Bunye said Braganza will assume the post of press secretary as soon as he has wound down his affairs at the Department of Agrarian Reform.

Bunye said Braganza is expected to take over sometime next week.

Bunye said he has worked with Brangaza in the 11^th Congress, and "we know him to be a professional and a fair player."

"We will maintain good working arrangements to ensure adequate media access and to facilitate coverage of events," Bunye said.

Braganza was appointed Agrarian Reform Secretary on February 5, 2001. He was on his second term as representative of the 1^st District of Pangasinan when President Macapagal-Arroyo asked him to serve in her administration.

He began his political career in 1988 when he was elected Municipal Councilor of Alaminos, Pangasinan. He first ran for a seat in Congress in 1995.

During his first term, he was vice chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations; Ecology; Labor and Employment; Trade and Industry; Women; and Security; Special Committee on Law Enforcement and Special Committee on Reforestation.

From 1994 to 1995, he was Consultant for Political Affairs at the Office of Pangasinan Vice-Governor Ranjit Shahani. He was District Coordinator of the Lakas-NUCD-UMDP Party.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo welcomes the support and collaboration of civil society in pursuing the government’s reform agenda, after meeting with leaders of civil society groups recently.

Bobit Librojo, spokeman of the Kongreso ng Mamamayang Pilipino (KOMPIL), noted President Macapagal-Arroyo’s thrust to further cement the partnership between her government and the civil groups.

Librojo said "the President’s meeting with civil society was very productive."

"Specific areas for government-civil society collaboration were identified," he said.

He noted the continuing working relationship between the basic sector groups with the National Anti-Poverty Commission as well as bilateral ties between government agencies and civil society.

Librojo stressed that civil society groups have been meeting to discuss concrete actions to support the Macapagal-Arroyo administration’s eight-point reform agenda.

He said civil society groups have been conducting the discussions to form a consensus on the actions they would take to see the reform agenda through.

Combined elements of the Anti-Smuggling Intelligence and Investigation Center (ASIIC) and the Bureau of Customs (BOC) scored anew today in the government’s campaign against smuggling, this time apprehending some P5 million worth of premium grade rice at the Port of Manila (POM) and at the Manila International Container Port (PMICP).

Customs Commissioner Antonio M. Bernardo lauded the combined team for another job well done and ordered the filing of appropriate charges against the perpetrators.

The apprehending team consisted of ASIIC Chief and Presidential Security Group (PSG) commander Brig. Gen. Hermogenes C. Esperon, Jr. and his men, and elements of the Customs Intelligence and investigation Service (CIIS).

Esperon said the premium grade rice arrived last month in separate shipments of 16 container vans from Thailand and China. The shipments were consigned to AMARI’s Corporation and AMPHON Corporation.

Esperon added that most of the shipments were declared as chemical fertilizer, sodium bicarbonate and glyphosate. Glyphosate is an ingredient in the production of fertilizers.