By Alma L. Tingcang
PAGADIAN CITY, February 27 (PIA) - - The Pagadian-Zamboanga del Sur Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation Inc. (PCCIFI) successfully held the first Pagadian Tax Forum on February 23, 2012 at Kamayan sa Pagadian.
Ms. Mercedes Lourdes S. Quisumbing, president of PCCIFI said almost 30 businessmen attended the seminar which was very informative and enlightening, equipping participants with knowledge and appreciation of the taxes we pay to the government. Paying the right taxes translates to better roads, bridges, schools, etc. as well as better health services for the people. It is the lifeblood of the economy.
In her welcome remarks, Ms. Quisumbing said, “PCCIFI believes that the key determinant to national progress and development is taxation. We supported the clamor and request of chamber members to apprise them on proper accounting and bookkeeping procedures.”
The tax forum also aimed to orient the business community with the new forms of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) in preparation for the filing of income tax returns (ITRs) in April, 2012.
Ms. Amor T. Palma, president of the Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA) discussed accounting and bookkeeping principles as well as the things which should be entered into the new form of the ITR.
“Accounting is an art. It can either make us or destroy us, so we need to practice proper accounting in handling our businesses,” Ms. Palma explained.
Meanwhile, Atty. Nasrollah B. Conding, BIR Revenue District Officer said, “Top performer tayo ngayon in the entire country. When I assumed as RDO Chief, our goal was only more than P300M, then P400M. Last year ginawang P500M and this year, it is P611M, so every year, tumataas ng P100M ang goal ng Pagadian, soon nasa billionaire’s club na ang Pagadian. The growth of Pagadian is really unstoppable.”
Atty. Conding said, ‘‘by the year 2015, that is barely 3 years from now, we will have a goal of P1B or we could exceed the target. At ito ang dream natin, to make collection and the business community in Pagadian grow,” he explained.
Ms. Myrna Maslamama, BIR Assessment chief said “taxpayers are vital partners in nation-building.” She discussed the basics of taxation, tax updates and gave an overview of Revenue Regulation 18-2011 dated September 12, 2011, giving sanctions to taxpayers who failed to comply with existing regulations to bill separately the 12% VAT in their respective invoices or receipts. (ALT-PIA9/Zambo Sur)