BIR operations greatly affected by brownout

A TOP official of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) said the daily brownout greatly affect the operations of BIR agency in Zamboanga Peninsula.

BIR Regional Director Alert Alocilja said everything is on a standstill during brownout since the operations their offices are computer-based.

Alocilja noted Zamboanga city had been experiencing six to seven hours daily rotational brownouts for the past months brought about by the lower power generation by the Mindanao grid.

The nearby provinces are also experiencing daily rotational brownouts.

Aside from Zamboanga City, Alocilja’s office covers the BIR offices in the Dipolog City, Zamboanga del Norte; Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur; Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay; Isabela City, Basilan, Jolo, Sulu; and, Bongao, Tawi-Tawi.

Alocilja said he foresees there will be less collection of taxes in Zamboanga Peninsula due to the unabated brownouts.

The BIR central office has tasked Alocilja’s office to collect P6.57 billion in revenues here in the region this year.

Alocilja said they are set conducting bidding for the purchase power generators to be able to better serve the taxpayers in the region. (Bong Garcia)