BIR taps Boy Scouts in tax drive

The Boy Scouts of the Philippines (BSP) pledged yesterday to support the tax information campaign of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to help the agency hit its R546-billion collection target for the year.

Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay, BSP president, and BSP Secretary General Jose Rizal Pangalinan expressed their support when they signed an agreement with BIR Commissioner Guillermo Parayno Jr. and Makati Revenue Regional Director Anselmo Adriano.

Speaking in behalf of Parayno, Revenue Deputy Commissioner for Legal Service Jose Mario Bunag expressed his gratitude and agreed to conduct tax information seminars to BSP members for them to be effective tax information agents.

Binay said the "BSP is more than willing to lend a hand for project like this, Lagi Kaming Handa."

Adriano is optimistic that the BSP’s tradition of patriotism, civic consciousness, and discipline will ensure the success of the tax information drive.

"The Boy Scouts can be effective instruments in encouraging their parents and the tax-paying public to register their businesses in their community and pay correct taxes," Adriano said.

Makati tax fraud chief Roy Tamane, who is the chairman of the Apo Scouting Commission, was instrumental in formulating the agreement between the BIR and the BSP.

Adriano said BSP members will be authorized to roam around commercial centers to report owners of business establishments not using receipts to their customers.

The BSP national executive board came in full force during the signing of the agreement, including Representatives Francisco Aniag, Del de Guzman, and Remedios Petilla as well as Makati revenue region officials, including Assistant Director Maria Nieva Guerrero and the eight revenue district officers