Section 22Sec./Art. 22

Section 297 of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended, is hereby further amended to read as follows:

"Section 297. Expanded Functions of the Fiscal Incentives Review Board. - The functions and powers of the Fiscal Incentives Review Board created under Presidential Decree No. 776, as amended, shall be further expanded as follows:

(A) To exercise policy-making, oversight, regulatory, and quasi-judicial functions on the administration and grant of tax incentives by the Investment Promotion Agencies and other government agencies administering tax incentives. In particularly, the Fiscal Incentives Review Board shall:

(1) Determine the target performance metrics as conditions to avail of tax incentives;

(2) Review and audit the compliance of Investment Promotion Agencies and other government agencies administering tax incentives, with respect to the administration and grant of tax incentives and impose sanctions such as, but not limited to, withdrawal, suspension, or cancellation of their authority to grant tax incentives under this Title without prejudice to the conduct of inquiry, investigation, and filing of appropriate criminal and administrative cases against erring officials and employees in accordance with the procedures prescribed under existing laws;

(3) Conduct regular monitoring and evaluation of investment and non-investment tax incentives, such as using cost-benefit analysis to determine their impact on the economy and whether agreed performance targets are met; and prescribe data requirements, reporting standards, processes, and procedures for the application of incentives for the calculation of costs and benefits upon application;

(4) Check and verify, as necessary, the compliance of RBEs, through the Investment Promotion Agencies, with the terms and conditions of their availment, in particular the agreed target performance metrics, rules and regulations of this Act, and other relevant laws or issuances;

(5) Provide Investment Promotion Agencies with capacity-building activities to ensure that they are equipped to comply with reportorial requirements; and

(6) Assess to organizational structure, focusing on the adequacy of its human resources for regulatory and quasi-judicial functions. If necessary, the Fiscal Incentives Review Board shall submit to the Department of Budget and Management the proposed organizational changes to strengthen its human resources in accordance with existing laws and regulations.

For this purpose, all Investment Promotion Agencies and other government agencies administering tax incentives shall annually furnish the Fiscal Incentive Review Board with all the issuances related to the grant and administration of incentives.

(B) To approve or disapprove, the grant of tax incentives to the extent of the registered project or activity listed in the SIPP upon the recommendation of the Investment Promotion Agency: Provided, that the application for tax incentives shall be duly accompanied by a cost-benefit analysis: Provided, further, That the Investment Promotions Agencies shall use the Fiscal Incentives Review Board-prescribed data requirements and methodologies for the application of incentives in calculating the costs and benefits upon application: Provided, further, That the Investment Promotion Agencies shall grant the tax incentives to registered projects or activities listed in the SIPP with investment capital of Fifteen billion pesos (P15,000,000,000) and below: Provided, furthermore, That the Fiscal Incentives Review Board, in consultation with the Investment Promotion Agencies, may increase the threshold amount of Fifteen billion pesos (P15,000,000,000);

(C) To approve applications for tax subsidies to government-owned or -corporations, government instrumentalities, government commissaries, and state universities and colleges.ℒαwρhi৷

For this purpose, the other government agencies shall ensure complete submission of applications, documents, records, books, or other relevant data or material;

(D) To formulate additional time-bound or place-specific projects or activities for inclusion in the SIPP during periods of recovery from calamities and post-conflict situations and where the Fiscal Incentives Review Board determines that there is a need to attract many classes, firms, and other investors that would accelerate the growth of a region's flagship industries, in accordance with the Medium-Term Development Plan and Republic Act No. 11962, otherwise known as the 'Trabaho Para sa Bayan Act', and recommend incentives to the President;

(E) To cancel, suspend, or withdraw, after due concerned RBEs on its own initiative or upon the recommendation of the Investment Promotion Agency for flagrant and material violations of any of the conditions imposed in the grant of fiscal incentives, including, but not limited to, the non-compliance, and endorsed RBEs whose incentives are canceled, suspended, or withdrawn to the concerned revenue agencies for the assessment and collection of taxes and duties due commencing from the first year of availment;

(F) x x x

(G) To require Investment Promotion Agencies and other government agencies administering tax incentives to submit, regularly or when requested, summaries of approved investment and incentives granted, and firm- or entity-level tax incentives and benefits data as input to the Fiscal Incentives Review Board's review and audit functions, and evaluation of performance of recipients of tax incentives.

For this purpose, the Fiscal Incentives Review Board shall maintain a masterlist of registered products and services for export or domestic consumption that are entitled to incentives: Provided, That to facilitate compliance with the foregoing, the DTI, in coordination with relevant regulatory bodies, shall cause the registration and reporting by RBEs of the types of services rendered whether domestically or to foreign clients; types of products manufactured domestically, products imported and sold locally, and products exported;

(H) To publish regularly, per firm, the data pertaining to the amount of tax incentives, tax payments, and other related information, including benefits data, subject to the provisions of Chapter V of this Table;

(I) x x x

(J) x x x

(K) To decide on issues, on its own initiative or upon the recommendation of the Investment Promotion Agency, after due hearing, concerning the approval, disapproval, cancellation, suspension, withdrawal, or forfeiture of tax incentives or tax subsidy in accordance with this Act. The Fiscal Incentives Review Board shall decide on the matter within ninety (90) days from the date when the Fiscal Incentives Review Board declared the issues submitted for resolution. A business enterprise adversely affected by the decision of the Fiscal Incentives Review Board may, within thirty (30) days from receipt of the adverse decision, appeal the same to the Court of Tax Appeals;

(L) To promulgate such rules and regulations as may be necessary to implement the intent and provisions of this Title. The Fiscal Incentives Review Board may use electronic means of publication in the Official Gazette or its official website;

(M) x x x

(N) x x x

(O) To recommend policies to prevent abuse of fiscal incentives availment and tax evasion under this Code and smuggling activities; and

(P) To exercise all other powers necessary or incidental to attain the purposes of this Act and other laws vesting additional functions on the Fiscal Incentives Review Board.

x x x."