The league of barangays captains in Dumaguete City is preparing a position paper addressed to Bureau of Internal Revenue Commissioner Kim Jacinto Henares, seeking clarification on the collection of income tax from the honorarium of barangay officials starting this year.

Federation president, Albert Aquino, of Barangay Bantayan said the position paper is not questioning the authority of the BIR, but in the spirit of fairness, the Liga ng mga Barangays would like to see that this provision is implemented nationwide, he said.

Barangay Captain of Looc, Angelita Ragay, said this is unfair to them, if the same income tax is not collected from other areas.

Revenue District 79 chief, Crecencio Agad, said this is an old law and he is merely implementing it.

In fact, some barangays in Negros Oriental are already complying with the law.  

Agad refuted allegations his office is implementing it without an information campaign. He said records will show that they have conducted an information and dissemination campaign through print and broadcast media, and even dialogs with concerned barangays including those with the league.

This year’s target collection of the local revenue office is about P1.3 billion.

This concern was also brought before the assistant Ombudsman in the Visayas who was guest of the Liga at a public forum on accountability held yesterday in Dumaguete.

Some of the barangays who were caught by surprise are questioning why this is being implemented only this year.*JG

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