The 9th Asia-Pacific Tax Forum (APTF) was held at Makati Shangri-La on October 3-5, 2012. The forum was co-hosted by the Department of Finance (DOF) together with the International Tax and Investment Center (ITIC). The three-day event showcased the international best practices in taxation as shared by several experts from different areas.

The event highlighted the enhancement of tax policies to achieve efficiency in service delivery and the use of tax policies to complement non-fiscal strategies.

Break-out sessions gave participants the options to attend specific topics they are interested to. Topics include Excise policy and Standards Coordination in the ASEAN Community, Natural Resources Taxation, Principles in Legislative drafting and implementation on Indirect Taxation Laws, and Designing a Fiscal Road Map for the ASEAN Economic Community.

Foreign experts like ITIC Presider Daniel Witt, Professor Sijbren Cnossen of Maastricht University and Australia’s Tax Office Assistant Commissioner Wayne Barford chaired the plenary sessions. From the Philippine Government, Finance Undersecretary Jeremias Paul, Internal Revenue Commissioner Kim Henares, Cong. Tomas Apacible, and Former Finance Secretary Teves seated as panelists during the sessions

Around 150 senior participants from the Asia-Pacific region from both private and government sectors joined the discussion. The event provided the Philippine Government the opportunity to present the countrys recent and current tax reform efforts.