The Bureau of Internal Revenue-Cordillera has achieved its collection target for the first 11 months of 2017 and surpassed it by almost P146 million.

BIR-CAR OIC Director Douglas Rufino said they recorded an over-collection of P145,828,687.05 as of the end of November or 29.70 percent more than the collection during the same period in 2016.

The January to November 2016 collection was P496,050,083 and the region was able to collect P636,878,770 during the same period this year.

As to the collection target set for BIR-CAR, Rufino said Cordillera’s 11-month collection goal for the year is P634,213,000 and they had already collected P636,878,770 or an offshoot of P2,665,770.

Rufino said that the region’s high collection emanated from the withholding tax remitted by the Department of Public Works and Highways-Cordillera deducted from the infrastructure project contractors in the whole region.

“This is because the DPWH’s budget allocation in the Cordillera was increased, that is why there was also an increase in projects and withholding taxes of the contractors.”

He added that the massive audit investigation in private corporations continuously being done by the BIR district collection offices added to their accomplishment.

Rufino said that based on their record, tourism-related establishments like hotels and restaurants, especially in Baguio City, were the contributors to the high collection rate.

Abra recorded the highest over-collection at 171.17 percent or P41,503,345 followed by Ifugao’s 55.44 percent or P12,097,442 and La Trinidad’s 26.89 percent or P22,149,856 offshoot in collection.