Town cooperative helps BIR step up revenue collection

Pavia, Iloilo – The Pavia Entrepreneurs Multipurpose Cooperative (PEMC) has become a partner of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) in seeing to it that their members pay the right taxes to the government.

“We must be a model of good citizenship by paying our taxes and following government regulations on business,” Joy Palmada, Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the PEMC, said.

The Cooperative is composed of about 249 members coming from the public market vendors, jeepney drivers, teachers and local government employees.

Palmada said that it has become a primary requirement for both the vendors and the establishment owners to have updated business permits and for the latter to issue receipts.

To facilitate compliance of tax payments, the Cooperative first pay the local government in full and then charge each vendor according to the terms agreed.

The Coop even facilitates SSS and Philhealth membership requirements and monthly payments, charging only minimal service fee for the members.  Even payment of ILECO bills is facilitated for members, Palmada added.

Ms. Palmada said that these services which the Coop has been providing are appreciated by the members especially in these times of economic hardships.  Through the Coop, the members can avail of from P1,000 to P100,000, at an interest rate of 2 percent per month.

Further, the Coop supports 10 high school scholars who are children of cooperators, under its Student Education Cash Assistance Program (SECAP).

The PEMC under the management of Mr. Dan Quiapo, and its six employees, maintains a capital build-up of P2.2 million.  It is backed up by a loan assistance of P300,000 from the Provincial government, with the municipality of Pavia, under Mayor Arcadio Gorriceta, as guarantor.

Moreover, the Cooperative is also sustained by an increasing credit line of about P4 million, by the land bank of the Philippines.

Susan P. Jovero, Municipal Information Officer designate, noted that the Cooperative has become a  “lifestyle” for the Pavianhons, that oils the economic machinery of the town.  (CDIO/PIA 6).