The Philippine Tax Academy (PTA) and the Philippine Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (PH-EITI) marked a milestone in public sector collaboration with the ceremonial signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) held on August 05, 2025, at the Diamond Hotel, Manila.
The MOU was signed by PTA President Gil S. Beltran and Department of Finance Undersecretary Bayani H. Agabin, who also chairs the PH-EITI Multi-Stakeholders Group. The agreement sets in motion a three-year cooperation aimed at designing and delivering specialized training programs to strengthen the knowledge and capabilities of PH-EITI stakeholders, including local governments, civil society, and host communities.
In his message, President Beltran emphasized the significance of the event as PTA’s first ceremonial partnership signing for the year. “This agreement represents not only the convergence of our institutions’ mandates but also our shared resolve to deepen governance through education, engagement, and transparency,” he stated.
Undersecretary Agabin echoed this sentiment, highlighting PH-EITI’s commitment to strengthening public understanding of extractive governance. “Through this partnership, we hope to access the Philippine Tax Academy’s expertise in developing targeted, high-quality training programs—programs that will deepen understanding of fiscal regimes and natural resource governance,” he said.
The signing ceremony was attended by PH-EITI officers led by National Coordinator Ms. Mary Ann Rodolfo, as well as representatives from the PTA’s Internal Revenue Institute, the team spearheading the collaboration and discussions and the Chancellors and Vice-Chancellors of the PTA’s three institutes: Local Government Finance and Customs.
The partnership is expected to evolve into a more comprehensive Memorandum of Agreement in the future, reflecting both institutions’ long-term commitment to advancing inclusive, transparent, and accountable governance through education.
Gil S. Beltran, President of the Philippine Tax Academy, together with DOF Undersecretary Bayani H. Agabin. Chairperson of the Philippine Extractive Industries Transparency Initiatives Multistakeholders Group (MSG), pose with institutional partners and team members during the formal signing of a Memorandum of Understanding. The event underscores their shared commitment to deepen collaboration in building capacities in the extractive industries and its stakeholders.