Province extends tax amnesty
Good news to all real property taxpayers in the province of Iloilo! A tax amnesty will be extended to those delinquent real property taxpayers effective until March 31, 2009.
Authored by Third District Board Member, Atty. Arthur “Toto” R. Defensor, Jr., a first ordinance for the year 2009, relative to the proposed extension of the grant of tax relief is expected to be approved and adopted today, January 27, 2009, during the 4th regular session of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.
It will be recalled that the 9th Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) has granted tax relief to delinquent real property taxpayers with respect to penalty, surcharge, and interest, effective until December 31, 2008, through Provincial Ordinance No. 2008-077, which spelled over P48.6 million in penalties to be condoned. The said ordinance was also sponsored by Board Member Defensor, which was unanimously supported, and adopted by the SP body.
Contained in a 42-paged report, and included in today’s agenda, Board Member Defensor, Jr., championed the plea of the affected Ilonggos.
As Chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means, Board Member Defensor stressed that “The Committee is mindful of the fact that the taxpayers sought to be benefited by the grant of tax relief under Provincial Ordinance No. 2008-077, are still recovering from the effects of typhoon “Frank”. The clamor before the Office of the Provincial Treasurer, the resolutions passed by the different municipalities, and the sentiment from the agricultural sector, as represented by the letter of the Iloilo Fish Producers, Inc., are truly reflective of the public pulse. To exemplify the situation, the farmers whose crops were devastated by typhoon “Frank”, and the fish producers who suffered the same fate, have just harvested their produce, or are still anticipating harvest in the first quarter of this year.”
“Be that as it may, there is more than good reason to extend the grant of tax relief to real property taxpayers. It is clear that, it is necessary, and is in the best interest of the people of the Province,” Defensor added.
The grant of tax relief under Provincial Ordinance No. 2008-077, is premised on the need to alleviate the financial burden of the people of the Province, as they continue to recover from the damage caused by typhoon “Frank”. It finds support under Section 192 of the Local Government Code of 1991, which provides that the local government units may, through an ordinance, grant tax relief under such terms and conditions, as they may deem necessary.
Coursed through Governor Niel D. Tupas, Sr., the request for extension of the grant of tax relief was deemed necessary “to give ample time for delinquent real property owners to pay their taxes”. Mrs. Corazon Estelita S. Beloria, Officer-in-Charge, of the Office of the Provincial Treasurer, related that her office has been receiving requests from a significant number of real property taxpayers, for the extension of the grant of tax relief. And considering the clamor of the real property taxpayers for the sought extension brought before the attention of Governor Tupas, the latter favorably recommends for a period of three (3) months, or until March 31, 2009.
Likewise, the Iloilo Fish Producers Association, Inc., passed a resolution requesting the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, to extend the grant of tax relief after the December 31, 2008 deadline. The Sangguniang Bayan of the municipalities of Batad, Pototan, Barotac Nuevo, Lambunao, Duenas, Mina, Ajuy, Janiuay, and Bingawan, also passed resolutions of like nature, seeking for the extension of tax amnesty.
According to Board Member Defensor, Jr., “The proposed extension of the grant of tax relief is necessary in order that the Provincial Ordinance No. 2008-077, may truly fulfill its objectives of helping the people of the Province, especially the agricultural sector, as they continue to recover from the effects of typhoon “Frank”.” (Von D. Superio)