THE Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Commissioner Romeo Lumagui Jr. has been recognized for good governance through efficient revenue and tax collection by Kaya Natin! Movement for Good Governance and Ethical Leadership

The nonprofit organization honored Lumagui during its 15th anniversary rites last Saturday.

BETTER PERFORMANCE BIR Commissioner Romeo Lumagui Jr. (center) with former senator Bam Aquino and Kaya Natin lead convenor Harvey Keh. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

“People react positively when they see signs of good governance,” Lumagui said as he received the recognition. “They saw and felt the changes undertaken under our leadership in BIR and viewed these as indicators and groundwork for better service that is heading towards good governance.”

Appointed as BIR chief last November, Lumagui steered the bureau to new heights with a record-breaking collection of P841.179 billion in the first four months of 2023.

The amount is 1.73 percent higher than its target collection.

The bureau’s year-on-year collection of P98.809 billion was 13.31 percent higher than the 2022 figure.

“This is the first time that Kaya Natin! is partnering with the BIR. We’ve never partnered with the BIR, but we realized that it is now headed by someone that we can fully trust, someone with utmost integrity, and really one of the champions of good governance,” lead convenor of Kaya Natin Harvey Keh said.

Lumagui said all programs of the bureau were formulated and executed consistently with the four pillars of good governance: excellent taxpayer service; digital transformation; integrity and professionalism of the institution; and fearless and aggressive enforcement activities.

“The historic collection made by BIR in the first four months of the year does not only prove the competence and efficiency of the BIR employees when they see quality leadership, but likewise highlights the regained trust and confidence of the taxpaying public in BIR,” Lumagui said.

“The Filipinos aspire to and hope for good governance, and they know what good governance looks and feels like,” he added.

Lumagui, who obtained his Juris Doctor degree from the Ateneo de Manila University and finished 19th in the 2005 Bar examinations, started his stint as BIR commissioner by launching raids against illegal vape and cigarette traders that resulted in the filing of multiple tax evasion charges.

The charges aim to plug the leakage in collection amounting to P46 billion.

Lumagui then declared war on the use of ghost receipts, considered the most elaborate tax-evasion scheme in history, becoming the first BIR head to do so.

More than P900 billion has been lost due to ghost receipts in the last two decades.

Lumagui has also charged 26 employees with administrative cases ranging from grave misconduct to the falsification of official documents.

“We sincerely appreciate this recognition of what we have started in the bureau. Now, I am more driven and committed to continue our reforms as we elevate BIR from just a mere collection-driven agency to a service-oriented bureau for all taxpayers, in the hopes of being a champion of and promoting good governance within our backyard,” he said.

“It’s still a long way to go in terms of achieving good governance from an organizational standpoint in BIR. What is important nonetheless is that given the limited time we have, we were able to set in motion programs about integrity, rule of law and ethical leadership in BIR,” Lumagui said.

Kaya Natin! was established in 2008 by outstanding local government leaders, which included the late Ramon Magsaysay Award for Government Service awardee Jesse Robredo, the husband of former vice president Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo.

Its current chairman is former senator Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino 4th.