PAMCHAM Directors, led by chairman Jess S. Nicdao and president Rene Romero, paid a courtesy visit to Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Region III Director Edgar Tolentino last September 11 at the new regional office in MacArthur Highway, Sindalan, City of San Fernando, Pampanga.
PamCham expressed appreciation for the warm reception accorded them by the BIR Region III and noted that this is the first time that the BIR officials actually sat down with the business sector to discuss partnership efforts that will support government projects.
The chamber acknowledged that the "Build, build, build" program is a flagship project that will trigger economic growth in the region and as such needs massive financial funding from government.
Tolentino told the directors that BIR’s role of raising revenues for the government is now a lot less about intimidation, but more about motivation. The collecting agency, he noted, now gives due regard to taxpayers’ concerns and acknowledges that gaining public trust is of equal importance with collecting taxes for government.
Both the business chamber and the tax collecting agency agreed that nation building and countryside development is a shared responsibility between the government and the business community.
To realize this, it was agreed that lines of communication must remain open and transparent.
As an initial step, the BIR regional office and PamCham appointed respective focal persons who will communicate issues and liaise concerns so that discords can be deliberated cordially and resolved amicably. (PR)