MANILA, Philippines?A preliminary report of the Bureau of Internal Revenue shows that the agency collected P63.8 billion in taxes last July, a shortfall of 5.3 percent from the target of P67.4 billion.

This puts collections in the year?s first seven months at P467.3 billion or 54 percent of the full year target of P860 billion.

Commissioner Kim Henares said on Tuesday the BIR would make up for the shortfall by running after tax evaders.