BIR signs Manifesto against corruption Committee on Anti-Red Tape (CART) took an oath
By BIR
QUEZON CITY, May 3 — “We in the BIR, nandito po ang Regional Directors, Assistant Commissioners, Revenue District Officers, frontliners, kami po ay bukas loob na makipagtulungan sa inyo sa laban sa korapsyon.”
This is what Commissioner Caesar R. Dulay said during the Oath-taking of the members of the Bureau’s Committee on Anti-Red Tape (CART) and signing of Manifesto (Pledge of Cooperation) participated in by a number of top revenue officials and employees via Zoom last April 22 in support to PROJECT KASANGGA: Tokhang Laban sa Korapsyon at Red-Tape of the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) and Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA). The Bureau is the first agency to take the said oath and the third agency (next to DPWH and BOC) to sign the Pledge of Cooperation.
The Project Kasangga aims to abide with the President Duterte’s call to weed out corruption in government. The BIR CART on the other hand, has been created by the Bureau since January 15, 2021 with the objective of ensuring fast, efficient, reliable, and corrupt-free delivery of services to the public. The CART is headed by Deputy Commissioner Celia King of Resource Management Group and Asst. Commissioner Teresita Angeles of Client Support Service as Chairperson and Vice Chairperson, respectively, and composed of all other Assistant Commissioners and other officials as members. Also formed part of the committee is the Sub-CART in each Revenue Region, headed by Regional Directors and Asst. Regional Directors with their respective Revenue District Officers and other regional officials as members.
Joining the Commissioner in the manifesto signing and oath-taking were Deputy Commissioners, Assistant Commissioners, Head Revenue Executive Assistants, Regional Directors, Asst. Regional Directors, Revenue District Officers and members of the BIR CART. Said ceremonies were administered/ witnessed by ARTA General Manager Jeremiah Belgica, PACC Chairman Greco Belgica, other PACC and ARTA officials and guests from the private sector.
Commissioner Dulay congratulated the PACC and ARTA for their initiative in fighting corruption, and again affirmed the Bureau’s commitment to cleanse the Bureau and curb corruption. “As previously affirmed when the president designated the Secretary of Justice to fight corruption, I went on record immediately that the BIR will support all initiatives taken, ordered by the president to fight corruption in government.
The Commissioner, however, encouraged the PACC and ARTA to talk with all other government agencies so they will also pledge their own cooperation. He likewise urged them to educate the private sector about their roles in stopping corruption in government.
“Corruption is a two-way street. Kung walang nangungurap walang corrupt. So I urged also the ARTA and PACC to take the initiative in dealing with the private sector. I think there is an association now with us during this forum so I asked them to convince and educate them that this is not the battle to be led by ARTA, PACC, BIR, BOC, DPWH alone, but it is a battle of the whole citizenry,” Commissioner Dulay said.
“So gaya ng sabi ni Chairman (of PACC) magtulungan tayo. I hope you have all the resources and personnel to pursue this fight and I hope that this will not be limited to BOC, DPWH and BIR. My wish is that everybody in government join you in this laudable efforts to fight corruption. As the President said mahirap labanan, but let’s minimize corruption so that the country will continue to survive especially during this time of pandemic,” the Commissioner added.
In a memorandum, the Commissioner directed all other revenue officials and employees nationwide to likewise express their support and cooperation to said anti-corruption initiative of the government by signing the same Pledge of Cooperation. (BIR)
