City's 2005 tax collection fruitful
Iloilo City -- City Treasurer Katherine Tingson said the city government has already collected P207.56 million business taxes even before the year 2005 ends. This figure is 29 percent higher than the previous year's total collection.
Tingson made the pronouncement in last Thursday's awarding rites of the 20 top business tax payers and 20 real property tax payers held at the Amigo Terrace Hotel. She added the city's collection is the highest compared to other cities in Western Visayas. 'For the current year, we have already exceeded our target by 21.89 percent with still a month to go before the year ends.'
In 2004, Iloilo City was number1 in the real property tax collection efficiency in Western Visayas based on the evaluation made by the Bureau of Local Government Finance (BLGF). The collection efficiency reached to a high mark of 131.08 percent. 'Our efficiency ratio was reported to be the second highest in the entire Philippines,' said Tingson.
She attributed the success on the real property tax collection largely to the cooperation extended by the tax payers especially those who belonged to the top 20 awardees. They have paid a combined real property taxes of P76.70 million last year. It accounts for at least 1/3 of the P213 million collection last year.
The city treasurer said the tax payers play the most important role. 'As major player they can dictate on how the story will end, where every local government unit operates on a lifeblood theory, it shall cease to exist when blood in the form of taxes stops flowing, if this happens, it will be sad ending.'
Meanwhile, Mayor Jerry Treñas said the taxes being paid to the city government are spent for the salaries of city hall employees, from top officials to the lowest employee such as the street sweeper, construction of roads, lighting of barangays and payment for the city's debts.
Treñas said the city of Iloilo will regain its long lost title as the Queen City of the South if the partnership between the business sector and the city continues.
The chief executive said it is but fair for the city to honor the and express appreciation to the business sector which in one way or the other helps in the progress of the city.
'It is our way of showing our sincere appreciation for their support and cooperation,' he said.
This year's 20 top business taxpayers are: Panay Electric Company, La Filipina Uygongco, Panay Power Corporation, Mandurriao Star, Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company, Greatfoods Concepots Incorporated, Supervalue Incorporated, Carlos Uy Corporation, Nestle Philippines Incorporated, New Iloilo Supreme Marketing, San Miguel Incorporated, Team Sales and Promotions Incorporated and Sunlife of Canada.
While, the 20 real property tax payers are: Panay Power Corporation, SM Prime Holdings Incorporated, Heva Management Development Corporation, Robinson's Land Corporation, La Filipina Uygongco Corporation/Philippine Foremost Milling Corporation, Juan Jamora Enterprises, Panay Electric Company, Filipina Shell Petroleum Corporation, QHP Realty, Iloilo Jar Corporation, Sarabia Manor Hotel, National Food Authority, Golden Gate Realty Food Corporation, St. Paul's Hospital, Far Eastern Hardware, James Young, Star Group Resources & Development Incorporated, Petron Corporation, John Cembrano and Go Kian Lam.