Duterte authorizes DOF to negotiate for US grant for BIR digital transformation program By TED CORDERO, GMA News
Published January 20, 2021 11:27am President Rodrigo Duterte has authorized the Department of Finance (DOF) to enter into negotiations with the United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) for a possible $809,450 or about P39-million grant to assist the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) in its digital transformation program. In a statement on Wednesday, the DOF said the President has approved its request for a Special Authority designating and authorizing its senior officials “to negotiate and/or facilitate, in accordance with law, for and on behalf of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GPH), with the authorized representatives of the USTDA.”
January 20, 2021 | 7:31 pm Font Size
The Bureau of Internal Revenue headquarters in Quezon City BW FILE PHOTO
PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte approved the request of the Department of Finance (DoF) to negotiate with the US government the terms of a grant worth $809,450 (P39 million) that will support the modernization program of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).
In a statement Wednesday, the DoF said it is planning to tap the United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) for the grant to support the BIR’s Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Modernization Strategy and Data Center Technical Assistance Project.
Finance Undersecretaries Antonette C. Tionko and Mark Dennis Y.C. Joven, along with BIR Deputy Commissioner Lanee C. David, have been tasked to negotiate and facilitate the application for the grant with USTDA representatives.
Published January 21, 2021, 5:00 AM
The Department of Finance (DOF) is set to enter into negotiations with the United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) for a possible grant for the Bureau of Internal Revenue’s (BIR) digital transformation program.
In a statement, the DOF said President Rodrigo R. Duterte has authorized the department to talk with the USTDA for a possible $809,450, or about P39-million, grant for the Philippines’ main tax agency.
A Special Authority was given by the President designating and authorizing Finance Undersecretary Antonette Tionko and Finance Undersecretary Mark Dennis Joven along with BIR Deputy Commissioner Lanee David “to negotiate” with the USTDA on behalf of the Philippines.