MANILA, Philippines — Senators Pia Cayetano and Alan Peter Cayetano on Tuesday welcomed the Bureau of Internal Revenue’s (BIR) suspension of its mandatory online registration badge requirement, citing data privacy concerns and the need to ease compliance burdens on small businesses and online sellers.
The BIR suspended the Oct. 31 deadline to give the agency time to review privacy and technical issues raised by taxpayers and other stakeholders, following mounting concerns over the mandatory display of its Registration Seal Badge.
In a statement, Senator Pia said her office had raised the data privacy issues directly with the National Privacy Commission (NPC), which subsequently issued a Notice to Explain to the BIR seeking clarification on the requirement.
“My office raised this directly with the National Privacy Commission (NPC), whose 2027 budget I handle, to help expedite action on the data privacy concerns,” she said.
Pia Cayetano said the suspension would allow the BIR to review the privacy and technical issues raised by stakeholders.
She also cited reports of difficulties in completing the registration process itself, urging the agency to address these concerns.
“While tax compliance is important, we must also ensure that the right to data privacy is protected and the ease of doing business is guaranteed,” she said.
She expressed confidence that continued coordination among the agencies would lead to a resolution that balances taxpayers’ obligations with their right to privacy and the need to make business compliance easier.
“I trust that this continued coordination will lead to a fair resolution that upholds both responsibilities,” she added.
Alan Cayetano also welcomed the suspension, thanking online sellers, content creators and other members of the public who raised concerns about the requirement.
He credited Pia Cayetano for bringing the privacy issues to the NPC and Sen. Bam Aquino for calling for a postponement and urging the government to hear affected sellers and content creators.
“The agency deserves thanks for listening and making room for adjustments. This is how we should work together,” Alan Cayetano said.
While recognizing the BIR’s responsibility to collect taxes, the minority leader said government requirements should not unnecessarily burden micro and small entrepreneurs trying to earn a living.
“A day spent completing a requirement may mean a day without earnings,” he said, noting that small-business owners often juggle multiple responsibilities, from preparing orders and making deliveries to maintaining records.
“We should help, not hamper, these entrepreneurs!” he added.
Cayetano urged government agencies to coordinate their requirements, reduce repetitive submissions and ensure their systems work efficiently to make compliance easier for small businesses.
“This requires a whole-of-government effort. Each agency handles part of the work; the business owner must navigate the entire process,” he said.
He said simpler procedures and clearer guidance would help businesses enter the formal economy while protecting consumers, personal information and government revenues.
Cayetano also reminded business owners to maintain proper records and pay their taxes, saying feedback from taxpayers could help the government improve its procedures.
“The lesson is simple: listen to the people who deal with these requirements every day. Their experience can help us get policies right,” he said.
“Let government be seen as a blessing, not a curse!” he added.
