A $500-million tax settlement offer by a tobacco maker may be difficult for the Philippine government to refuse as it struggles to raise funds. The tax agency is tasked to raise P1.83 trillion this year, an increase of about 16 percent. The tax agency is hiring 10,000 employees of which 70 percent are accountants, the commissioner said. The tax agency had validated Del Monte’s tax payments, Dulay said. I have a problem.”The tax agency is also asking lawmakers to exempt the bureau from a law that sets a uniform salary scale for all government workers.

Source: The Standard July 14, 2017 11:15 UTC