SURIGAO CITY (MindaNews/5 March) – There is “nothing wrong” in the controversial memorandum order of an education official in Surigao del Norte requiring graduating students to submit a tax clearance certificate as a graduation requirement, a regional official of the Department of Education said.

Raul Orozco, DepEd-Caraga administrative officer, said the initiative of Dr. Evelyn R. Fetalvero, schools division superintendent, could be due to a nationwide campaign of the Bureau of Internal Revenue enjoining government agencies and the local government units to help in tax revenue collection.

Asked on the process in the issuance of memorandum or circulars from the local level, Orozco said: “If the EO so expresses all government agencies within the province of Surigao del Norte are encouraged to participate in revenue generation then the superintendent of that province, in her exercise thereof of her authority, could issue a memorandum for information and guidance only (and) within her jurisdiction.”

Fetalvero’s memorandum 08 series of 2012 issued last January 18 was based on Executive Order 01 series of 2011 of Gov. Sol F. Matugas titled “An order requiring a tax clearance certificate issued by the provincial, city and/or municipal treasurer, as the case may be, evidencing payment of yearly tax obligations from any requester including local contractors and suppliers of goods and services, and job applicants before issuance of official records.”

Orozco added any memorandum issued by a DepEd official within her jurisdiction does not necessarily pass through the regional office or the central office. What is important is that the memorandum is not “mandatory.[]