The Department of Finance (DOF) expressed gratitude to the House of Representatives’ Committee on Appropriations for approving its P33.75-billion budget for fiscal year 2025, which prioritizes digitalization to enhance tax administration efficiency and deliver better public services.
“[O]ur proposed budget every year is always a faithful reflection of our strategic priorities under the Bagong Pilipinas brand of governance. [They] are part and parcel of a larger effort to improve tax administration efficiency, deliver more responsive public service delivery, and provide economic prosperity for the Filipino people,” Finance Secretary Ralph Recto said in a statement.
Sultan Kudarat Rep. and Committee on Appropriations vice chair Horacio Suansing sponsored the DOF budget before the House plenary on Sept. 16, 2024.
Suansing manifested his support to increase the budget for the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), the Bureau of Customs (BOC), the Bureau of Local Government Finance (BLGF) and the Philippine Tax Academy (PTA).
He also called for the replenishment of the People’s Survival Fund (PSF) to support numerous climate adaptation projects of local communities.
“In view of this chamber’s pursuit to undertake productive investments, particularly in our local institutions to strengthen our macroeconomic fundamentals and thereby protect the country’s long-term growth and development prospects, I appeal to my colleagues in Congress to do the same,” he said.
The DOF’s proposed budget for 2025 is 20.8-percent higher than the 2024 General Appropriations Act (GAA) level, but represents only 0.5 percent of the government’s total proposed 2025 national budget of P6.352 trillion.
Under this, the DOF’s new general appropriations constitute the largest portion, amounting to P29 billion to support the DOF’s core operations and priority programs.
To prioritize workforce development and the digitalization of its attached agencies, 41.4 percent of the DOF’s proposed budget is allocated to personnel services, 37.9 percent to maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE) and 20.6 percent to capital outlays.
The BIR, the BOC and the Insurance Commission (IC) lead the charge in digitalization with a combined amount of P4.2 billion, while other agencies are allotted around P600 million. Darwin G. Amojelar
Investments in digitalization will significantly enhance taxpayer experience, streamline trade processes, and improve fiscal transparency.
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