President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo further intensified today the government’s revenue collection drive by signing a proclamation declaring April of every year as Tax Awareness Month

The President signed and announced the proclamation at the Glorietta Activity Center in Makati City.

With the proclamation, the President said she hopes to promote, enhance and instill nationwide awareness and appreciation of the importance of taxes and the value of civic responsibility to society.

The proclamation signing coincided with the formal launch of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and Boy Scouts of the Philippines’ (BSP) joint tax campaign program dubbed "Boy Scouts Para Sa Tamang Pagbubuwis" and the BIR’s Electronic Sales Reporting System (e-Sales).

Under the mechanics of e-Sales, business establishments are required to enrol all their Cash Register machines (CRM), Point-of-Sale (POS) machines and other similar devices with the BIR for the issuance of a Machine Identification Number (MIN).

The MIN will serve as the permanent transaction number of each machine and will be the unique identifier to be used by business tax-payers every time they report electronically to the BIR the monthly gross sales recorded in each of their CRM/POS machines every 10^th day of the month.

Makati BIR Regional Director Anselmo Adriano said the implementation of the e-Sales will help curb the incidence of tax evasion by tax cheats.

"The enforcement of the e-Sales will minimize if not eradicate the rampant practice of unreported and undeclared income by unscrupulous businessmen to evade the payment of correct taxes," Adriano said.

BIR Commissioner Guillermo Parayno, meanwhile, said that with the implementation of the e-Sales, the BIR will be able to overshoot its collection targets for this year.

"We hope to collect P537 billion. This is P70 billion more than we collected last year," Parayno said.

Parayno explained that the BIR is currently undertaking a nationwide campaign to inform the public of the e-Sales program.

With help of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines, he said decals or stickers will be stuck on all CRM and POS machines nationwide informing the public on the e-Sales program.

One decal will remind establishments to report their gross monthly sales electronically, preferably via Short Messaging System (SMS), e-mail or through the BIR web portal, while another decal will remind customers to always ask for official receipts for all their purchases or related transactions.

The President, together with Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay, Coalition Against Corruption chair Ramon del Rosario, Jr. and Commissioner Parayno stuck the ceremonial registration decals on the CRM of the Esprit store at the Glorietta.

Press Secretary Ignacio R. Bunye today said Holy Wednesday this year, which falls on March 23, 2005, has been declared an optional holiday for government offices and agencies not performing vitally pressing or emergency functions.

Bunye made the clarification to answer questions raised on whether it is a holiday or not.

"Employees of government offices that do not perform emergency functions are not required to report for work on Wednesday," Bunye said in a radio interview this morning.

He stressed, however, that "members of the Police and Armed Forces of the Philippines will have to come to work on that day," he said.

The issue arose from Proclamation 808 issued on March 15, 2005 by Malacaņang declaring Saturday, March 26 as a special (non-working) day . . . and "allowing the public sector, under certain conditions, not to report for work on Wednesday, March 23, 2005."

Specifically excluded by the proclamation from the Holy Wednesday optional holiday are the Bureau of Internal Revenue, Bureau of Customs, Philippine Postal Corporation and agencies providing police, security, fire protection, custodial, emergency, medical and such related services.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today raised the Philippines’ concern over rising oil prices in the world market, at a luncheon with Saudi Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Ali I. Al-Naimi.

In a speech at the oath-taking ceremony for newly appointed Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla, President Arroyo said her talk with the visiting Saudi minister "ranged far and wide."

"First and foremost, we have been sharing with the Minister our deep concern about maintaining the price of affordable energy for all Filipinos," the President said.

The President, however, recognized that "Saudi Arabia is doing everything within its power to keep the price of oil down, and I thank him for that," referring to the efforts taken by the Saudi oil ministry under the leadership of Al-Naimi.

As of 1:21 p.m. today, crude oil for April delivery was trading at $56.7 per barrel, just two cents lower than the record high of $56.72 posted on March 18, the highest close since the futures contract was introduced in March 1983.

At a press briefing after the oath-taking ceremony of Lotilla, Al-Naimi explained that it was not an actual shortage in supply in the near-term but the unfounded fears in the market, that have been driving prices up.

"There is a perception in the market that there will be a shortage in supply in the immediate future. I have tried to dispel that notion. I have described our ability to produce 11 million barrels per day," the Saudi minister said.

He assured that Saudi Arabia has the capacity to produce 11 million barrels per day and will be able to supply 12.5 million barrels per day by 2009, to allay fears of a possible supply shortage in the future.

"There is nothing I can do with people with perception that there’s going to be a shortage in supply. That is the reason the price is on the rise," he said.

Al-Naimi cited the special relations between the Philippines and Saudi Arabia, noting that both countries have benefited from their close ties, in terms of investments, and employment opportunities among others.

He clarified, however, that Saudi Arabia could not give the Philippines a special discount, as far as oil sales are concerned, and stressed that "there are no discounts (on oil prices) anywhere in the world" because "oil prices are set by market forces."

In her speech earlier, President Arroyo noted that Philippines-Saudi relations cover "oil as well as millions of Filipinos who live and work in the Saudi Kingdom."

At least 21 top furniture manufacturers in Cebu have committed to provide the furnishings for Malacanang sa Sugbo, allowing the national government to save millions of pesos while transforming the seat of power in Central Philippines as a showcase of some of their best products.

These furniture manufacturers met with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo at the Malacanang sa Sugbo during her visit to Cebu last March 9.

The Cebu Furniture Industry Federation (CFIF) got the furniture companies together and encouraged them to participate in the project.

President Arroyo has tapped Chary Aboitiz to handle the interior design and make sure that the furniture donated by various companies to be used in each of the rooms actually match.

The biggest donor for the project is Maitland-Smith, followed by Cebu Fil-Veneer, which would furnish the Guitar Room.

Pacific Traders donated the furnishings for the lobby of Malacanang sa Sugbo which will later be known as the Traders’ Lobby, in recognition of the contribution of the private firm.

Mehitabel Furniture Inc. would provide some of the furnishings for the guest rooms and the private living area.

Other major donors are Metamorfose and Detalia Aurora, which would furnish other rooms.

Dedon, another furniture manufacturer, took charge of providing the furnishings for the inner courtyard, which will later be named Patio Dedon.

Newly installed Energy Secretary Raphael Perpetuo Lotilla assured President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo that he would pursue the government’s energy development programs and promote investments in the energy sector.

Lotilla made the assurance after he took his oath of office before the President this afternoon at Malacanang’s Rizal Hall. Lotilla succeeded Vincent Perez, who resigned to join the private sector.

At a press briefing after the oath-taking ceremony, Lotilla vowed to live up to the President’s instructions to ensure that energy in the country is affordable and sustainable.

"What we have to do immediately, as the President said, is to outline the next step in pursuit of the government’s energy program," Lotilla said.

Aside from Lotilla, Cyril del Callar also took his oath of office as new president of the National Power Corporation (Napocor) before the President.

In her speech during the oath-taking ceremony, the President said that Lotilla and del Callar will help her outline and implement the government’s energy policies, including the promotion of investments in the energy sector to boost the economy.

"I can assure you that Secretary Lotilla and del Callar, together with his team, will do everything possible to ensure that energy is affordable and sustainable, promote investments and development further this important sector of our economy," the President said.

Before his appointment as Energy secretary, Lotilla was president and chief executive officer (CEO) of the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation (PSALM).

A state corporation, PSALM is tasked to manage the privatization of the government’s power generation assets, Independent Power Producers (IPP) contracts, and other non-power assets, including the management of Napocor’s financial obligations and stranded contract costs.

Lotilla also served as PSALM chief operating officer (COO) and deputy director general of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) with the rank of undersecretary from 1996 to 2004.

Before joining the government, Lotilla served as legal consultant to the Senate and the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, technical assistant to the Senate Committee on Energy and coordinator for Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (Ledac), the advisory and consultative body to the President and Congress.

Lotilla, who hails from Sibalom, Antique, was editor-in-chief of the Philippine Collegian, the student paper of the University of the Philippines (UP), in 1983-1984 obtained his bachelor of laws degree from UP and Master of Laws from the University of Michigan Law School.

Lotilla also holds undergraduate degrees in psychology and history.

Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesman Ignacio R. Bunye said today Malacanang is now preparing to receive Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao when he returns to Manila anytime this week.

Considered a popular contemporary hero, Pacquiao unfortunately lost his non-title super featherweight fight with former world champion Erik Morales of Mexico last Saturday (Sunday in Manila).

At a press briefing this afternoon, Bunye said President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo remains proud of Manny Pacquiao despite his loss to Morales in their classic bout in Las Vegas, Nevada.

"The President considers Manny Pacquiao an authentic Filipino sports hero. The Palace will always be open to Manny Pacquiao," Bunye said.

Pacquiao is also a unifying symbol for the fractious Filipino nation. Before and during his fight with the Mexican pugilist, all Filipino groups – from Malacanang to the separatist Moro Islamic Liberation front and other sectors -- were all rooting for him.

Bunye also said Malacanang is open and "prepared to receive Pacquiao at his convenience. He also expressed optimism the boxer will bounce back shortly from his temporary setback.

"Definitely," Bunye replied to a question whether Pacquiao will get a hero’s welcome when he pays a courtesy call on the President upon his return home from the United States.