Lapus defends BIR from revamp calls

House committee on ways and means chairman Rep. Jesli Lapus (3D, Tarlac) on Tuesday opposed calls to revamp the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) after the agency reported that it fell short by P10 billion in its April revenue collection target. Lapus said the BIR's failure to reach its April target was not enough to conclude that the agency's present set up was inefficient. The lawmaker heads the powerful House committee that tackles revenue collection issues. Lapus explained that even in private corporations, an employee is given six months to determine its efficiency. Malacañang has also come to the BIR’s defense. "We should not judge the BIR on the basis of a short-term performance, but on a longer one," Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said on Monday, amid calls for revamping the BIR and the sacking of Commissioner Jose Mari Bunag. -GMANews.TV