CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – The provincial government donated recently at least one-hectare property worth P200 –million for the construction of a P650-million building of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Revenue Region IV (RR4).
With this, the BIR Officer In Charge Conrado Lee of Revenue Region 4 gave Governor Lilia Nanay Pineda a plaque of appreciation during their 111th anniversary to show their great appreciation for the donation, which is a prime provincial lot.
For her part, Governor Pineda cited the efforts of former BIR Regional Director Cory Francisco and incumbent Regional Director Conrado Lee and the BIR families in Pampanga for their consistent follow-ups that led to the donation of the prime provincial lot in Barangay Sindalan, this city on Friday.
The governor also lauded the approval of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan led by Vice Governor Dennis Delta Pineda in donating the property to BIR.
“Nagpapasalamat po ako kay Vice Governor Dennis doon sa hiningi kong authority sa Sangguniang Panlalawigan na maibigay namin bilang donasyon sa 1 hectare dito sa may Sindalan,” she said.
The governor stressed the importance of the work performance of the BIR particularly on tax collection, which is the source of the Internal Revenue Allotments (IRA) of the local government units (LGUs).
“Alam niyo ba na wala tayong gagamiting pondo, wala tayong Internal Revenue Allotment kung walang collection na malaki ang BIR,” she stressed during the 111th anniversary of the BIR held at Benigno Hall, Capitol Compound this city.
Lee said the new location will provide for ample parking for vehicles and is along MacArthur Highway providing better convenience to commuting taxpayers.
“The new location will also provide for ample parking for vehicles and is along MacArthur Highway providing better convenience to commuting taxpayers. The construction of the new building will be completed in two years or more,” he added.
The new building will be one of the biggest and tallest national government buildings in Pampanga as it is proposed to rise as an eight-storey edifice, it was learned.
Lee added that the proposed BIR building will be the first green building in the province as he lauded the governor for the donation.
The governor recalled that after the signing of the lot donation with Commissioner Kim Henares at BIR Central Office, she thanked the latter for the efforts of the BIR families in collecting taxes particularly the sin tax collection, which she claimed as perfect.
Now, she said all the poor Kapampangan families are beneficiaries of Philhealth who enjoy the zero or no balance billing in the district hospitals of their choice in Pampanga.
The governor said she also thanked the commissioner for the huge collection of taxes in the province that went up to P176 million in 2014.
“Ang nadagdag sa IRA ng Pampanga ngayong 2015, alam ko ay kulang sa P200-million. Ibig sabihin isang taon lang nabalik na sa atin iyong idinonate nating 1 hectare na ang halaga ay P200-million din,” she said.
She also acknowledged the efforts of the BIR in collecting P22 –Billion nationwide.
It was learned that the provincial government alone is remitting atleast P9 to P10 –million worth of tax as the Capitol is also complying with the circulars and order of the BIR.
