FISCAL AUTONOMY EXPLORES SOURCES OF TAXATION Tuesday, Jan 14 2014, Written by Abdullah Cusain, Head BTC Comm Group (Luwaran) Deeper insights into the prospective revenue generation system of Bangsamoro were acquired as the Transition Committee’s Committee on Fiscal Autonomy held its second session with experts January 7 and 8 at Davao City. Discussions on taxes, fees and charges as well as other sources of revenues were extensive as officials from the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), Bureau of Local Government Finance (BLGF), Southern Philippines Development Authority (SPDA), Al-Amanah Bank, Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA) and National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) clarified numerous issues that could be included in the drafting of the Bangsamoro Basic Law, particularly on provisions for fiscal autonomy. Situs of taxation and taxable elements became the recurring topics with the BIR which was represented by Alice Gonzales and Atty. Eric Diesto, chiefs of collection division (RR 19) and legal division (RR 18), respectively. Tomas Carillo, Acting Chief Tax Specialist in the Local Tax Policy Research & Review Division of BLGF Manila, made a comprehensive presentation on the taxing and regulatory powers of local government units. NEDA 11 Regional Director Ma. Lourdes Lim also shared with the committee members valuable knowledge on the taxation in the ARMM. The Annex on Revenue Generation and Wealth Sharing provides, among others, that the Bangsamoro Government shall levy capital gains tax, documentary stamp tax, donor’s tax and estate if all taxable elements are within the Bangsamoro, and that it will have the power to levy fees and charges pursuant to the powers and functions that it shall exercise in accordance with the list of concurrent and exclusive powers in the Annex on Power Sharing, including powers already granted under RA 9054 (Expanded ARMM Organic Act) and other legislations. Other Sources of Revenues Issues and concerns on ODA or Official Development Assistance were discussed by Engr. Nasser Sinarimbo who is currently an Organization Performance Management Consultant for the BDA - Mindanao Trust Fund. With his long experience in the ARMM ODA Office and as Project Manager of the ARMM Social Fund, Sinarimbo cited lessons that could guide the Bangsamoro in availing ODA. Officials of the two long-running development arms created purportedly for the Muslims in the Philippines – SPDA (1975) and Al-Amanah Bank (1973) -- were also invited to give updates. Even the institution of zakat, the religious payment made by a Muslim out of his wealth or income, was also given prominence with a lecture made by Professor Muhammad Abdul Fattah Santoso of Muhammadiyah University of Surakarta, Indonesia. The conduct of the said session was assisted by FASTRAC or the Facility for Advisory Support for Transition Capacities, a joint facility of the United Nations and World Bank. FASTRAC also supported the first session with experts of the Committee on Fiscal Autonomy last December 6.
Posted on: Wed, 15 Jan 2014 14:27:01 +0000
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