TACLOBAN CITY – The City Treasurer’s Office expressed optimism that they would be able to achieve their collection target of more than P1 billion pesos this year.
City Treasurer Zosima Cordaño made the statement during the last week of the ongoing business renewal and Real Property Tax (RPT) in this City.
In an interview over Radio Program “Sumat Tacloban,” Cordaño disclosed that the city government targets to collect P1.4 billion for 2019; the majority of the targeted revenue will come from local sources such as real property and business taxes, and economic enterprise which includes the market, slaughterhouse, and terminal collections.
“The revenue target for this year is higher than last year’s P1.2 billion, but we are nevertheless hopeful that we will be able to hit the target with the cooperation of our taxpayers,” she said.
As part of the revenue generation initiatives of Mayor Cristina G. Romualdez, the Kanhuraw Business Center (KBC) came up with innovations that would give taxpayers more ease in paying their taxes such that assessment and payment of real property taxes can now be had in one location, while business renewal have been streamlined into three steps.
The online payment system of the local government dubbed Electronic Payment Portal (EPP) also went full blast this year allowing taxpayers to pay their taxes right at the comfort of their home or business establishment.
According to the city treasurer, local business operators will have until January 20, 2019 to renew their business permits and licenses per City Revenue Ordinance 99-58 or be penalized with a 25 percent surcharge and a 2 percent interest per month.
Since the last day of business renewal falls on a Sunday, the KBC has extended its business hours until 7 pm, which started last January 14 to 18.
However, cash transactions will only be accepted until 6 pm. On Saturday, January 19, the KBC will be open to serve clients starting 8 am until 5 p.m.
On the other hand, real property taxpayers will have until January 31 to avail of the 20 percent maximum discount on real property taxes.
Meantime, the city government expects more than 8,000 regular business permits to be processed this year. – (HENRY JAMES G. ROCA/CIO)
