City eyes review of new Revenue Code
BACOLOD CITY – Mayor Evelio Leonardia requested the Sangguniang Panglungsod through City Councilor Dindo Ramos, chair of committee on laws, to review the amended version of the Revenue Code of Bacolod City which recently received complaints from the business sector.
Businessmen here are clamoring against the high fees and charges embodied in the new Revenue Code especially now that country is feeling the impact of the global economic turmoil.
Vice-Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson stressed that the city is always listening to the clamor of the public especially the business sector who are now directly affected by the Revenue Code.
The city is trying to meditate on three options, namely, implementing the same rates but on a staggered basis; another is to have a reduction with the existing rates; or to observe status quo of the old rates.
"I think the city should consider the first two than to have no amendment at all because even though we are experiencing the economic crisis, it's high time for the city to increase its rates since it slept for 15 years," Sayson added.
"I would like to make it clear that it is not 'exorbitant' as what others looked it, I disagree, it is only a fair rate of today which I also understand, people did not expect it," he added.
Recently, various complaints from different institutions was received by the city because of the implementation of the new code.
City Treasurer Annabelle Badajos justified it by saying, they are only implementing what should be for the city for the past 15 years.
"We are only following what is mandated by the Department of Finance and the provisions of the Local Government Code and I guess it's time to give to the city what is due for him," Badajos added.
She compared the rates of the province's component cities to Bacolod City – a highly urbanized city -- which according to the City Treasurer is very far behind.