Romualdez trains guns on non-performing collectors
HIT your targets or hit the road.
Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez issued the warning yesterday to under-performing officials and collectors of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and the Bureau of Customs (BoC) as he pushed the implementation of a one-strike policy against collectors who fail to meet their target revenues.
The House leader said he discuss his recommendation with his cousin, President Marcos Jr.
Romualdez invoked the oversight function of Congress in ensuring optimum performance of various departments and agencies in the implementation of policies and programs under their respective mandates.
He likewise stressed the need to ensure sufficient revenues for targeted subsidies, hospitalization, education, job creation, and other social protection programs for underprivileged Filipinos.
“I will recommend to President Marcos a one-strike policy against collectors who will miss their target revenues,” Romualdez said, saying it is a key step towards achieving the government’s revenue goals.
“We need to meet funding requirements for health programs, public education, transportation, and job creation through infrastructure projects,” he added.
The Speaker lamented that the inability of concerned collectors to meet their revenue goals has impeded the government’s implementation of priority initiatives particularly in agriculture, health, and public works.
To address this problem, he suggested that collectors who fail to meet their revenue targets be immediately removed from their posts and replaced by individuals who can ensure a more efficient revenue collection.
“Let us help the government meet its revenue targets. I hope our call will send a clear message for our collectors to perform at the highest level,” Romualdez said, stressing that it would be unfair to retain under-performers in their posts where there might be others who deserve a chance to deliver better performances.
“Taxes are the lifeblood of government in the implementation of pro-poor programs designed to alleviate poverty and reduce inequality. It is of vital importance in the government’s effort to provide access to better education, healthcare, and social protection programs,” he said.
On the part of Congress, Romualdez said a prudent exercise of its oversight power would promote transparency and accountability under the Marcos administration.
Specifically, he said Congress would scrutinize how government agencies are utilizing the resources entrusted to them.
“It is important to improve the absorptive capacity of all government agencies in the implementation of vital programs,” the Speaker said.
