MANILA, Philippines -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has appointed Sixto Esquivias as the new Bureau of Internal Revenue commissioner, Finance Secretary Margarito Teves announced.

Esquivias, who served as deputy commissioner of the BIR several years back, will replace Lilian Hefti, who resigned earlier this month, Teves said.

Arroyo's economic team has been working to improve tax collection and was pushing for revenue enhancement measures to cushion the impact of the global economic slowdown on the country.