FINANCE Secretary Frankie B. Villanueva reiterated yesterday that there will be two separate issuance of checks, one each for refunds and rebates.
The department in the past processed and released only one check for refunds and rebates.
This year, however, “taxpayers will get refund checks first and we will move to release the rebate checks only after the refund checks are completely released,” Villanueva told Variety yesterday afternoon. “They should be getting two separate checks.”
He asked for the public’s patience as they wait for the release of their refunds and rebates.
He admitted that the June 21 scheduled release of the latest batch of refund checks, amounting to $1.5 million, was delayed.
“On June 21 some $1.5 million was due to be released, but it was delayed because of the upgrading of the computer system,” Villanueva said. However, he added, they were able to mail the refund checks on June 22 and 23.
The upgrade was a result of the installation of a new version of computer software being used by the Department of Finance for its financial management system. It took several days before the software was completely installed.
The upgrading included the department’s offices on Rota and Tinian.
