Undersecretary Renato Reside; Executive Director Mark Lester Aure; the dedicated men and women of the NTRC; my fellow workers in the government, magandang hapon po sa inyong lahat.

Back when I was a legislator, the NTRC was one of my most trusted partners. Because this team provided me with the expert support and technical guidance I needed to sponsor and defend critical tax measures as Chairman of the Senate Ways and Means Committee during the 12th, 13th, and 15th Congresses. Kaya malaki po ang aking pasasalamat ko sa inyong lahat.

So today, let me honor your 65 years of meaningful work—of doing the often complex but important job of making sense of taxes.

Because as you all know by heart, taxes are the foundation of a working government. And they are not just about raising revenues, they are the living proof of our shared responsibility to one another.

They are the means by which we pool our hopes, our sacrifices, and our resources.

Ito ang dahilan kung bakit may silid-aralan ang mga bata sa Sulu. Kung bakit may maayos na kalsada para sa mga magsasaka sa Isabela. At kung bakit may libreng gamot at mga hospital para sa mga pasyente sa Maynila.

Ang buwis ay hindi lang pondo ng pamahalaan—ito ay sukatan ng malasakit natin sa isa’t isa.

And for over six decades, you’ve done the quiet work so the rest of us in government can make better and smarter decisions for the Filipino people.

You are the conscience of the tax system. You ask the questions that matter: Are we taxing the right things? Are we taxing fairly?

You’ve helped protect the Filipino people from bad policies disguised as good politics. You’ve helped shape good laws so they work for the people.

And on the flip side, you often stand as the lone voice of reason when well-intended policies are politicized.

So, as you mark this milestone, let me say this: the next chapter of NTRC is not just about refining formulas or reviewing fiscal frameworks.
It is about making every Filipino feel seen and heard in the way we collect, allocate, and explain taxes.
It’s about building a tax system that is simple, transparent, and compassionate. It’s about ensuring the government can fund its promises—without passing the bill to the next generation.

And so, on behalf of the Department of Finance, and of a grateful nation, maraming salamat sa inyong sipag, talino, at integridad.

You have proven that success doesn’t need fanfare. Hindi kailangan ng drama. Hindi kailangan ng hype. Just good work. Done quietly. Done right.

May this celebration not just be a look back, but a step forward. Because the work of making taxes fair, simple, and humane never ends. And in that profound mission, the NTRC will always matter.

I know you’ll keep doing what you do best: challenging bad ideas, improving good ones, at ang pagpapaalala sa aming lahat na ang buwis ay usapin ng pagiging makatao at maka-Pilipino.

Once again, happy anniversary. Mabuhay kayong lahat. Mabuhay ang Bagong Pilipinas.