Manila: Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Commissioner Romeo Lumagui Jr. led the agency in commemorating its 121st founding anniversary by paying tribute to the people behind its growing performance.

According to Philippines News Agency, Lumagui emphasized in a Facebook post that the celebration was not just about the agency's 121 years of service, but more importantly, about the individuals who have consistently contributed to the Bureau's strength. He highlighted the BIR's ongoing commitment over the years to addressing challenges such as change, increasing tax collections, enhancing services, and maintaining public trust.

The BIR has shown significant growth in tax collections, with revenues increasing by 13.29 percent in 2024, amounting to PHP2.852 trillion. The upward trend continued in the first half of 2025, with collections growing by 14.11 percent, reaching PHP1.55 trillion from January to June. On average, the BIR needs to collect PHP8.6 billion daily to support the national government's daily spending of PHP17.4 billion.

Lumagui stressed that the anniversary serves as a reminder of the BIR's commitment to nation-building, which is not only about achieving revenue targets but also about upholding the values of public service. He expressed gratitude to the public servants of the BIR for their integrity and dedication to serving every day.

Finance Secretary Ralph Recto also praised the BIR's tireless efforts and emphasized the agency's essential role in fulfilling the government's commitments to the Filipino people. He acknowledged that all government services, including education, healthcare, infrastructure, and disaster response, rely on the taxes collected by the BIR.

Recto extended heartfelt thanks to the BIR staff for their sacrifices, noting that the hope and dreams of the Filipino people are intertwined with every peso collected by the agency.