Lenten work schedule
For most Filipinos who belong to the Christian faith, today is Holy Tuesday.
Between now and the coming Sunday, a lull in social and business activities is expected in the country. There would be less motor vehicles on the roads, and some radio and TV stations would suspend their regular programs.
For those with hometown provinces to go to, this is the time to reconnect with family and friends. For the well-heeled, the beach resort would be the best place to be during the week.
Today is also the last day for the filing of the annual income tax returns (AITR) for income earned last year. The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) had earlier announced that there would be no extension of that deadline.
Except for (a) micro and small business taxpayers, or (b) due to the unavailability of electronic filing facilities in the taxpayer’s area, or (c) for justifiable reasons as determined by the BIR, the rest of the taxpayers have to file their AITR digitally.
Manual filing would be allowed only in the three instances earlier mentioned. Failure to file the AITR on time would result in the imposition of 12-percent interest and 25-percent surcharge on the tax payable.
The BIR’s strict enforcement of the April 15 deadline has put tremendous pressure (and stress) on accountants who prepare their clients’ AITRs to complete their work and submit them ahead of that date.
They may have to do “all-nighters” (or work beyond regular office hours) to make sure their work meets the standards of fair and accurate accounting. It’s crunch time that they have to endure at the expense of their personal or social needs, at least for the time being.
It would be risky to do last-minute submissions because the rush in beating the deadline may overwhelm the BIR’s servers and cause a temporary suspension of operation of their systems.
If that happens, the bean counters can only pray to their favorite saints for those systems to go online again before midnight.
Regardless of any system breakdown, when the clock strikes 12:01 a.m. on April 16, AITRs filed thereafter shall be considered as late filing and subject to penalties and surcharges.
In times past, the Holy Week was considered a time to pause from the usual run of everyday life and, when feasible, families engaged in traditional Lent-related activities.
For some businesses, however, the Holy Week is anything but a break from the daily grind.
At least on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, and perhaps up to Black Saturday, many businesses are expected to avail of the downtime and absence of their staff to perform maintenance work on their facilities and premises without worrying about the attendant grime and noise.
For example, the operators of the trains that serve Metro Manila had announced that they would do their annual maintenance work starting Maundy Thursday until Easter Sunday.
Also, it’s business as usual, and even more, for vacation spots, beach resorts and hotels that cater to Filipinos and expatriates who believe there is nothing ethically wrong with resting and relaxing in the company of their loved ones and friends, while the rest of the country may be more traditional in their observance of this week.
For those establishments, this period of supposed religiosity is the second opportunity (the first being the Christmas season) for them to make hay and keep their operations on an even, if not more profitable, keel.
In a manner of speaking, the influx in those leisure areas partakes the character of “Lenten economics,” which can be likened to the “holiday economics” program of a past administration where holidays that fell within a work week were celebrated before or after a weekend.
This time though, the difference is the day after tomorrow and until Saturday are not regular work days and have been for ages, in recognition of the religious upbringing of majority of Filipinos.
At the risk of sounding sacrilegious, let’s enjoy the long, hot and humid break.
