‘Antique province financially stable’
SAN JOSE, Antique – The provincial government of Antique is financially stable, according to the Provincial Treasurer’s Office.
“The finances of the provincial government are alright as the salaries of the employees are paid on time. As soon as the payrolls and the Authority to Credit are signed by the governor, the employees can withdraw their salary in their ATMs immediately,” Provincial Treasurer Sherlita Mahandog said, in response to the query of Board Member Calixto Zaldivar III.
On the additional bonus of the provincial government employees, she said there are still no guidelines from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) or from the Office of the President.
Mahandog said the payroll for the remaining Christmas bonus has already been prepared and the employees can avail of it as soon as Gov. Exequiel Javier signs the documents.
Mahandog was invited last week by the Provincial Board to shed light on the status of the collection of the real property taxes especially from Semirara Coal Corp. in Caluya town.
Board Member Edgar Denosta has filed a resolution in relation to the Supreme Court order in 2007 directing the Semirara Coal Corp. to pay its real property taxes.
Mahandog told the board members that the mining firm and the municipal government of Caluya executed a compromise agreement on Nov. 17, 2003 for a re-computation of tax assessment of the firm’s identified properties.
After a series of consultations last year, the reassessment of the properties of the mining firm resulted to the reduction of tax collectibles from P82 million to only more than P46 million.
Based on the final computation, the Provincial Treasurer’s Office is sending the final demand for payment through the municipal treasurer of Caluya to compel Semirara Coal Corp. to pay, Mahandog said.
In 2009, the mining firm wanted to avail of the tax amnesty program of the provincial government which was to help the victims of Typhoon Frank.
“We told the officials of Semirara Coal Corporation that they are not entitled to it,” she said.
The provincial government’s share in the real property taxes of the mining firm is 35 percent.*PNA
