Photo credit: DOF

The Department of Finance (DOF) is taking the Philippines’ tax game to the global stage. In a bid to refine the country’s tax policies and improve public services, DOF officials recently visited South Africa for a series of research and high-level meetings.

DOF Tax Research and Expenditure Monitoring (TREM) Undersecretary Renato E. Reside, Jr. and Atty. Jocet Consisa P. Dita, Deputy Executive Director of the National Tax Research

Center (NTRC), participated in a conference organized by the African Tax Institute (ATI) and the African Tax Administration Forum (ATAF). The event tackled the Pillar Two Global Minimum Tax, one of the biggest developments shaping international tax systems today.

During their visit, the DOF team also held a high-level dialogue with South African National Treasury Director-General Dr. Duncan Pieterse and officials from the South African Revenue Service (SARS). The discussions centered on best practices in tax policy and administration—offering insights the Philippines can use to strengthen its investment climate.

According to the DOF, the mission aligns with the Marcos administration’s efforts to attract more investments and promote economic growth. The department said the meetings provided valuable perspectives on South Africa’s recent advancements in investment-driven tax incentives.

The delegation also met with Philippine Ambassador to South Africa Her Excellency Noralyn J. Baja, who expressed her support for the DOF’s efforts to deepen international collaboration in tax policy and research.