Market vendors given false hopes—Pesina
Iloilo Central Market
Market vendors complaining about the exorbitant fees imposed by the city government under the new tax ordinance could have been misled that the ordinance could still be reversed in their favor.
This Councilor Antonio Pesina, chair of the committee on ways and means of the Sangguniang Panlungsod, commented in last week's public hearing after a president of a market vendors association told the committee that Vice Mayor Jed Mabilog advised them to exert efforts to have the ordinance amended.
Pesina said Mabilog gave the market vendors false hopes.
In last Friday's hearing, Rex Donasco, president of Iloilo Central Market Vendors Association told the committee that Mabilog advised them to push for the amendment of the tax ordinance so that by the second quarter of this year they could avail of a new rate.
Donasco's statement surprised Pesina and City Treasurer Katherine Tingson.
Pesina said Mabilog's advice to the market vendors is misleading. He explained to the vendors present that rentals and entrance fees are different from the quarterly taxes being paid for by businesses. Rentals and entrance fees are due everyday, he said.
The News Today yesterday failed to reach Mabilog for comment.
The series of hearings is being conducted by the committee in answer to the request of City Mayor Jerry Treñas to hear the plea of the vendors to lower the rates of rentals and entrance fees.
Pesina said there is no such thing as total revision of the new local tax ordinance. The request of the Iloilo Business Club (IBC) is to amend only a portion of the ordinance. The committee could not also immediately amend or revise the tax ordinance. It should undergo proper proceedings, said Pesina.
The committee will come up with a recommendation after the series of hearings relative to the rentals, entrance fees and other tax scheme. The committee report will be deliberated before the entire body for approval, said Pesina.