CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- With the resignation of Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) commissioner Sixto Esquivias IV, BIR Regional Director Romulo Aguila Jr. is urging higher revenue officials to retain the key performance indicator (KPI) appraisal program started by the former commissioner.

Aguila, revenue director for Central Luzon, said it was Esquivias who first implemented the assessment of the performance of regional directors with the use of KPI.

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He said that previously, the performance of regional directors was measured based only on revenue collections.

However, with the KPI, performances of regional directors are measured not only with their achievement of target collections set within a year but also on the systems and tax programs they are implementing on their respective local coverage.

The KPI aims to grade the performance of tax collectors covering every aspect of their jobs, including collection growth, collection from enforcement, number of businesses closed under the Oplan Kandado and taxpayers satisfaction under the Handang Maglingkod project.

Aside from being an assessment program, the KPI is also a benchmark for revenue collection improvements in such as the key indicators could only be satisfied with implementation of tax programs.

Esquivias ordered the implementation of the KPI within the framework of the Handang Maglingkod Project, which in turn assures the delivery of basic frontline services to tax payers.

Aguila worries that the KPI may be shelved away under a new leadership within the BIR.

"The KPI is good and defines the many basic functions of regional directors in assuring quality programs to tax payers and we worry that it might to continued," Aguila said, stressing that the KPI is also "sensitive" to differences in business environments and situations confronting regional collection offices.

Aguila said the KPI provides a little elbow room for low collection due to calamities, war, and political unrest. The KPI, he said, also points out possible programs to implement to improve collection and contribute to a more business friendly environment.

"We are hoping that the KPI will not be set aside. We urged that it be retained and improved for the better," Aguila said, arguing that the KPI is yielding good results in Central Luzon. (Ian Ocampo Flora)