ILIGAN CITY (PIA)--The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Revenue District  Office (RDO) 101 kicked off its 2023 tax campaign to seek the support of the taxpayers in generating funds for the country's economic recovery and development through timely payment of the correct taxes, March 1.

Assistant Regional Director Rufo Ranario led the signing of the pledge of support for their programs. He said that improving the BIR's tax collection system was important to get more taxpayers to voluntarily pay their taxes.

"It is our challenge that every great man and woman of the BIR must have to do his or her part to improve and upgrade the system of the collection," said Ranario.

At the same time, BIR RDO 101 Revenue District Officer Amanoding Esmail gave a report on the taxes paid by people in Iligan City and Lanao del Norte. BIR collected more than P1.6 billion in 2021 and more than P1.8 billion in 2022. 
The contributors to economic growth in Iligan City are manufacturing, accommodation, food service activities, construction, agriculture, forestry, and fishing while for Lanao del Norte, economic contributors include construction, public administration and defense, compulsory social activities, human health, and social work and education.

Moreover, Mayor Frederick Siao lauded the efforts of BIR District Office 101 for conducting the 2023 local tax campaign kick-off.  

"The importance of taxes cannot be undermined; while BIR concerned itself with the collection of national taxes, the local government is also doing its share in collecting local taxes," said Siao. 

Likewise, Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation of Iligan Inc. President Reggie Punongbayan called on the business sector to pay taxes on time to support the county's economic recovery. She also reaffirmed their commitment to cooperate, collaborate, and coordinate with BIRA to improve the experience of the tax collection system. 

During the campaign, BIR RDO 101 also discussed relevant tax updates, new BIR issuances, plans, and programs to enhance tax collection and services. (CEC/PIA-10/Lanao del Norte)