BIR ad a challenge for doctors – Philippine College of Physicians exec

AD UNFAIR TO DOCTORS? This Bureau of Internal Revenue advertisement that appeared in the Inquirer on Sunday is deemed unfair by the Philippine Medical Association. But the BIR counters that doctors should not take the ad personally and just pay taxes honestly.

MANILA, Philippines—A simple ad won’t take away their nobility.

After the Bureau of Internal Revenue released an advertisement that featured a doctor sitting atop the shoulders of a struggling teacher, Tony Leachon M.D., Vice President of the Philippine College of Physicians, said it’s only a minor setback for their professions.

“Personally, I was a bit disappointed,” Leachon said in an interview with INQUIRER Radio 990AM Tuesday. “This is a challenge to restore the nobility of the profession.”

Leachon said that, instead of employing a shame-campaign, the BIR could have opted for a more positive approach regarding the tax issues.

“They should have given directions to give support the positive direction and motivate people on why they should pay taxes,” said Leachon who also used shame-campaign in his profession but realized that it wasn’t effective.

He said that the government should have more infrastructures for the people to pay their taxes and root out the BIR of “predators” who rake in money.

“Every adversity or problem is a challenge to improve our lives,” Leachon said.

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