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Priority issuance of rebates reverts to DoF
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Posted on Jan 19 2006
Lt. Gov Timothy P. Villagomez yesterday gave up his authority to decide who gets their tax rebates first.
In a memorandum, Villagomez told acting Finance Secretary Eloy Inos that he would no longer be reviewing requests for priority issuance of tax rebates.
“I believe the discretion to prioritize the release of tax rebates for certain individuals should be solely within the Department of Finance, based on availability of funds and the legitimacy of the request. Therefore, the authority to prioritize tax rebate checks is hereby reverted back to your office,” the lt. governor said.
Former lt. governor Diego T. Benavente exercised such authority during the previous administration.
“There are many other things that need the lt. governor’s attention. Also, he believes that his office was not the right province for making decisions concerning priority rebate checks,” press secretary Charles P. Reyes Jr. said.
He added that such practice leaves the lt. governor’s office open to suspicions of politicking.
He also said that the Department of Finance would prepare a “fair and equitable” system to determine which rebates should be issued first. Special cases such as death in the family or medical emergency will be given major consideration.
“Finance will set a criteria and apply that equally and objectively,” Reyes said.
Currently, the Department of Finance is still in the process of issuing tax rebate checks for 2004.
